It is one of the symbols of the gradually falling pandemic. People fully vaccinated against Covid-19 do not need to wear a mask outside and can avoid wearing one inside in most places, announced Thursday, May 13, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They also don’t need to obey physical distancing rules with a few exceptions, the CDC added, saying they hope the guidelines encourage Americans to get vaccinated.
“Over the past two weeks, we have seen additional data that shows that these vaccines work in the real world, that they are resistant to variants, and that those vaccinated are less likely to transmit the virus.”, the agency said in a statement.
“Great news from the CDC: If you’re fully vaccinated, you don’t need to wear a mask – indoors or outdoors, in most places.”, the White House tweeted, before Joe Biden spoke from the White House gardens: “If you are fully immunized, you no longer need to wear a mask! “, he hammered during a brief speech. “I think this is an important step, a great day”, he added, calling on all Americans who are not yet vaccinated to do so without delay.
Big news from the CDC: If you’re fully vaccinated, you do not need to wear a mask – indoors or outdoors, in most se… https://t.co/zlMMQfokJz
Keep it in transport
The CDC, however, recommends that those vaccinated keep their masks on planes and trains, as well as at airports, public transportation, and hospitals or medical centers.
Currently, about 35% of the American population, or more than 117 million people, have received the vaccine dose (s) needed (Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is given in a single injection, those from Pfizer and Moderna in two). And over 153 million people have received at least one dose. American adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 were also able to start getting vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Thursday.
The United States is the country that has been the most affected, both in number of deaths and cases, with 583,685 deaths for 32,814,946 cases identified, according to the count from Johns-Hopkins University. But the number of cases has fallen sharply in the country: the seven-day daily average of infections has fallen to around 36,000 cases. And the daily death curve is at its lowest since early April 2020.
The decision by health officials was made in light of scientific studies that showed the vaccines were also effective against asymptomatic infections and circulating variants, said Rochelle Walensky, CDC director. She also stressed the fact that the few people who fell ill despite having been vaccinated were still less contagious. “If you develop symptoms, you must put your mask back on and get tested immediately”, however clarified Rochelle Walensky. She also warned that these recommendations could always be amended if the health situation worsened.
The authorities had started to recommend that all Americans, that is to say, including those who are not sick, to wear masks from the beginning of April 2020, that is to say a little more than a year ago. They had already gradually started to relax their recommendations in recent weeks.