CDC Drops Mask Mandate for Fully Vaccinated Americans – What You Need To Know!
Travel news reveals that today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that fully vaccinated Americans can stop wearing masks and practicing social distancing. There are exceptions, but the announcement signals that a reopening of society is on the near horizon.
Millions of Americans have endured the restrictions for more than a year. A reported 117 million Americans are fully vaccinated, roughly a third of the population and many of those who received inoculations had been vocal and critical of not being able to do more.
What does this mean for the travel industry? It is a positive step forward for tourists who were housebound for over a year and for an industry that had been economically battered by a near complete shutdown.
CDC says Americans no Longer Need Masks
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said at a press conference, “We have all longed for this moment when we can get back to some sense of normalcy. Based on the continuing downward trajectory of cases, the scientific data on the performance of our vaccines and our understanding of how the virus spreads, that moment has come for those who are fully vaccinated.”
Walensky noted the rarity of infection in people who are fully vaccinated.
The CDC Allows Some Americans to Stop Socially Distancing
The news was tempered however when she indicated that the guidelines could change back to past restrictions. “This past year has shown us that this virus can be unpredictable,” she said.
The new mandate does not apply where state or local restrictions still require them, to airplanes, buses, trains and other public transportation, nor to health-care settings. And some occupational settings may still require masks if workers are unvaccinated.
Walensky laid out further cautions such as urging anyone who is immune-compromised to consult with a doctor before giving up their masks. She added that the unvaccinated are at risk for mild or severe illness and death and should still wear a mask.
According to the CDC Vaccinated Americans Can Relax COVID Restrictions
Overall the announcement means that fully vaccinated Americans can look forward to a new new-normal since last March when in-person school and work was largely erased.
Richard Besser is the former acting director of the CDC and he remarked, “This is a day that I think will be marked as a true turning point in the pandemic in the United States. The idea that people who are fully vaccinated can take off their masks, can go outside, can go inside, be around people and not have to worry about covid anymore, that’s absolutely huge.”
Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Travel. Come back here often for Travel news and updates.
Share your thoughts in the comments section below, on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!
Photos credit: Deposit Photos