The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new masking guidelines Thursday that carry welcome words: Fully vaccinated Americans, for the most part, no longer need to wear masks indoors.
CDC guidelines say fully vaccinated people must still wear a mask in health care settings, transportation hubs such as airports and stations, and public transportation. That includes planes, buses and trains traveling into, within or outside of the U.S. as part of a federal mask mandate that was extended to September 13, 2021.
The agency also said fully vaccinated people must wear a mask or socially distance in places required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
The agency said its decision to update its indoor masking guidelines for fully vaccinated people stems from the steady decline of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, and the promising data that demonstrates the COVID-19 vaccines’ effectiveness in real-world studies.