In a Turning Point for the Pandemic, CDC Says Vaccinated People Can Gather Without Masks

People who are fully vaccinated can start to resume some activities without donning face masks or practicing social distance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday, as it released long-awaited guidance on for inoculated individuals.

The center said that indoor gatherings with people who have all been fully vaccinated are now allowed, and that attendees do not need to wear masks.

Fully inoculated people are those who have received the second in a two-series of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or a single-dose vaccine such as the Johnson & Johnson Jannsen vaccine and waited two weeks.

Such individuals can socialize with unvaccinated people without having to wear a mask or maintain social distancing. In public, however, the CDC still recommends wearing a face mask and maintaining appropriate distance from others.

“Our guidance must balance the risk to people who have been fully vaccinated, the risks to those who have not yet received the vaccine and the impact on the larger community transmission of Covid-19,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to reporters at a news conference.

Fully vaccinated people can also gather without masks with unvaccinated people from one other household, such as in the case of children visiting parents, unless any of the individuals present is at an increased risk “for severe illness” from Covid-19.   In addition, those who have been fully vaccinated to not have to quarantine if they are exposed to someone who has Covid-19, unless the vaccinated individual begins to show symptoms.

In addition, the CDC warns vaccinated people to avoid larger gatherings and to “delay domestic or international travel.”

(Photo: Accura Media Group)