After more than a year of mask-wearing due to the risk of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday people can forgo face coverings for some outdoor activities.
In new guidance released Tuesday, the CDC said that people who are considered fully immunized can ditch the mask if they’re outdoors with members of their own household. However, guidelines say to keep a mask on in crowded indoor spaces like grocery stores or on public transportation.
MORE: CDC says vaccinated people can ditch the mask outdoors in many casesAccording to the CDC, outdoor visits and activities “pose minimal risk to fully vaccinated people themselves or to those around them.” However, the agency says that those who are vaccinated “should be mindful of the very low potential risk of transmitting the virus to others if they become infected.”
For those who are fully vaccinated, activities where you don’t need a mask include walking, running or biking outdoors with members of your household; attending small outdoor gatherings with fully vaccinated family, friends, or those who are unvaccinated; and dining at outdoor restaurants with friends from multiple households.
In addition, for those who have been itching to travel, those who are fully vaccinated can do so again if they’re traveling domestically and can also refrain from testing before or after travel, or self-quarantining after travel.
MORE: Biden cites new outdoor mask guidance in touting 'stunning progress' in COVID fightWhile this is a huge step forward in terms of progress with the COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC advises that those who are fully vaccinated should still continue to take precautions in indoor public settings, wear well-fitted masks when visiting indoors with those who are unvaccinated and are at risk for severe COVID-19 disease, avoid large indoor and in-person gatherings, and get tested if you experience COVID-19 symptoms.
“The more people who are vaccinated, the more steps we can take towards spending time with people we love, doing the things we love to enjoy,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a press briefing on Tuesday.