CDC Updates Outdoor Mask Guidance for Vaccinated People

By edhat staff

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance on Tuesday regarding outdoor mask use for fully vaccinated Americans.

Under the new guidelines, fully vaccinated people can now unmask at small outdoor gatherings, or when dining outside with friends from multiple households. Unvaccinated people will still need to wear a mask at such gatherings.

The CDC considers people who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as being more than 2 weeks after receiving the second dose in a 2-dose series or more than 2 weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine.

Although, vaccinated and unvaccinated people should still avoid large indoor gatherings. The CDC defines "large gatherings" as bringing together "many people from multiple households in a private or public space." For the fully vaccinated who choose to attend a crowded outdoor event, such as a live performance or sporting event, wearing a mask is recommended.

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Fully vaccinated people can also visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing and visit with unvaccinated people (including children) from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.

In regard to travel, fully vaccinated people can refrain from testing and self-quarantine before or after domestic and international travel.

For the time being, vaccinated people should continue to wear a fitted mask in indoor public settings and when visiting indoors with people at increased risk or unvaccinated people from multiple households. Vaccinated people should still get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, according to the CDC.

"The bottom line is clear, if you're vaccinated, you can do more things, more safely, both outdoors as well as indoors," President Joe Biden said during press statements on Tuesday afternoon. "So for those who haven't gotten their vaccination yet, especially if you're younger, or thinking you don't need it, this is another great reason to go get vaccinated. Now."

The California Department of Public Health and Santa Barbara County Public Health Department have yet to update their mask guidance following the CDC's recommendations.