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 The updated health advice comes as more than half of all adults in
the United States have now received at least one dose of COVID-19
vaccine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
Biden said the new advice was a result of steps the country had
taken to fight the coronavirus.
"We’ve made stunning progress because of all of you," Biden said,
adding that COVID-19 cases are "down dramatically." Deaths among
senior citizens have dropped by 80% as vaccinations have increased,
he said.
"If you're vaccinated, you can do more things, more safely, both
outdoors as well as indoors," Biden said, while adding that masks
should still be worn in big crowds and at stadium events.
Wearing face masks has been considered by experts one of the most
effective ways of controlling virus transmission. With most COVID-19
transmission occurring indoors, and vaccinations on the rise, the
use of masks outdoors has been under public debate for weeks in the
United States as Americans look to enjoy the benefits of being fully
vaccinated.
The CDC called the new guidelines a "first step" in helping fully
vaccinated Americans resume activities they had stopped because of
the pandemic.
New COVID-19 cases dropped 16% in the last week as the United States
surpassed 140 million people having received at least one shot of
authorized vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson &
Johnson's one-dose vaccine.
Just over 29% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated, the CDC
reported, and 43% have had one dose of the two-shot vaccines.
Last week's figures were the biggest percentage drop in weekly new
cases since February, according to a Reuters analysis of state and
county data.
The White House is trying to overcome vaccine hesitancy, and Biden
offered the new mask guidelines as another reason to get the jab on
Tuesday.
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 "So, for those who haven't
gotten their vaccination, especially if you're
younger or thinking you don't need it, this is
another great reason to go get vaccinated,"
Biden said.
SMALL OUTDOOR GATHERINGS
The CDC said fully-vaccinated Americans can
safely dine outdoors with friends from multiple
households at restaurants and attend small
outdoor gatherings with a mixture of fully
vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
CDC continues to recommend masking for crowded outdoor events such
as parades and sporting events and indoor visits to the hair salon,
shopping malls, movie theaters and houses of worship.
The agency classified activities as "red," "yellow" and "green"
based on level of safety for unvaccinated people.
It said unvaccinated people can also walk and run unmasked with
household members outdoors safely and attend small outdoor
gatherings with fully vaccinated family and friends.
Data on whether vaccinated people can spread infection to those who
did not receive their shots is limited and the CDC warned that
people should evaluate risk to friends and family before going out
without masks.
This is an update to the CDC's guidance, which in March said people
who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can meet without
masks indoors in small groups with others who also have been
inoculated.
(Reporting by Manojna Maddipatla in Bengaluru; Jarrett Renshaw in
Philadelphia; Editing by Caroline Humer, Heather Timmons and Bill
Berkrot)
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