During a White House COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said science shows that fully vaccinated don’t need to wear masks outdoors.
Walensky said those who are fully vaccinated, or 14 days post-second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks past the Johnson & Johnson one-dose jab, can attend a small outdoor gathering with people who are vaccinated or unvaccinated, or dine with friends from multiple households without a mask.
The health expert noted that less than 10% of documented coronavirus transmission has occurred outdoors, and with increasing rates of vaccination and decreasing rates of new cases the agency was motivated to update its guidance.
Walensky’s remarks came after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated mask guidance for people who are fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.
Don't Miss
On its website, the CDC said fully vaccinated people can gather or conduct activities outdoors without wearing a mask except for in certain crowded settings and venues. The update also clarified that fully vaccinated workers no longer need to be restricted from work following exposure as long as they are asymptomatic.
Walensky noted this is the third update the CDC has made regarding guidance for fully vaccinated individuals, and that as more people return for the second shot the agency will continue assessing for more updates. For now, the agency still recommends fully vaccinated people take certain precautions while in indoor public settings like wearing a well-fitted mask and avoiding indoor large-sized in-person gatherings.
