Now that the ranks of those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are growing steadily, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has news for you — but it still involves masks.
The good news? You don’t have to wear one –or keep social distance–around close family, even if they haven’t been vaccinated, “if they are at low-risk for severe disease.”
But, the agency warns, the pandemic is not under control yet and so, it recommended March 8, to continue precautions including wearing “a well-fitted mask” and maintaining a six-foot social distance from others.
The CDC said, “fully vaccinated people should continue to follow guidance to protect themselves and others, including wearing a well-fitted mask, physical distancing (at least 6 feet), avoiding crowds, avoiding poorly ventilated spaces, covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often, and following any applicable workplace or school guidance. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of the vaccine says the agency.”
The new guidance reflects the agency’s judgment of how the U.S. can get back to life before coronavirus hit last year as the number of vaccinated Americans approaches 10 percent of the nation’s population and the pace of shots reaches upward of TK,000 a day.
“We know that people want to get vaccinated so they can get back to doing the things they enjoy with the people they love,” CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky said. “There are some activities that fully vaccinated people can begin to resume now in their own homes.
“Everyone – even those who are vaccinated – should continue with all mitigation strategies when in public settings. As the science evolves and more people get vaccinated, we will continue to provide more guidance to help fully vaccinated people safely resume more activities,” she said.
Since Jan. 20, the White House has labeled controlling the COVID-19 pandemic its number one priority.
The administration’s strategy to achieve 100 million vaccination shots in 100 days, has resulted in 441 federal community vaccination centers in 37 states, territories and the District of Columbia in community centers, schools and stadiums.
The administration says they have deployed 2,225 federal workers as expert logisticians, vaccinators, non-medical operational staff, clerks and other critical support roles from multiple federal agencies.
The administration adds ensuring access is a priority. Federal officials say they are using churches and community-based organizations as well as mobile vaccination sites.
“However, the benefits of reducing social isolation and relaxing some measures such as quarantine requirements may outweigh the residual risk of fully vaccinated people becoming ill with COVID-19 or transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to others,” the agency says.
In other words, the vaccinated need to protect themselves from the unvaccinated. That means “fully vaccinated grandparents can visit indoors with their unvaccinated healthy daughter and her healthy children without wearing masks or physical distancing, provided none of the unvaccinated family members are at risk of severe COVID-19,” it says.
“If the unvaccinated people come from multiple households, there is a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among them. Therefore, all people involved should take precautions including wearing a well-fitted mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others, and visiting outdoors or in a well-ventilated space,” it says.