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 The CDC, which hopes the guidance will prod more
Americans to get vaccinated, also said fully immunized people will
not need to physically distance in most places.
The turnaround came just 16 days since CDC issued revised guidance
that left many restrictions in place for vaccinated people. The
agency came under fire in March for initially discouraging immunized
grandparents to fly to visit loved ones.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the new guidance was based on a
sharp reduction in cases, expansion of vaccines to younger people
and vaccine efficacy against coronavirus variants.
"We followed the science here," Walensky.
President Joe Biden emerged at the White House for remarks without a
mask. "I think it's a great milestone, a great day," he said.
"If you're fully vaccinated and can take your mask off, you've
earned the right to do something that Americans are known for all
around the world: greeting others with a smile," he said, flashing a
brief smile himself.
Biden earlier shed his mask during a meeting with lawmakers,
Republican Senator Shelly Moore Capito told reporters. Some
journalists at the White House also removed their masks.
The CDC had faced criticism, even from public health officials, that
it has been too cautious in its guidance. Critics have said people
need to see more benefit of getting vaccinated in terms of returning
to normal activities.
"In the past couple of weeks, we have seen additional data to show
these vaccines work in the real world, they stand up to the
variants, and vaccinated people are less likely to transmit the
virus," the agency said in a news release.
It added, "We needed to take the time to review the full body of
evidence to get this right, and that’s how we came to this
decision."
'NEED A REWARD'
Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease doctor at Vanderbilt
University Medical Center, said he supports the new guidance that
many had been calling for.
“People in state health departments and infectious disease doctors
have been saying this for some time because they're so impressed
with the effectiveness of the vaccine, and also, they have the
feeling that people who are vaccinated need a reward,” he said.
Republican Senator Susan Collins called the guidance "overdue."
"If people find they cannot do anything differently after a vaccine,
they will not see the benefit in getting vaccinated," she said.
The revised guidance is a major step toward returning to
pre-pandemic life, but the agency still recommends vaccinated people
wear masks on planes and trains, and at airports, transit hubs, mass
transit and places like hospitals and doctor's offices.
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Officials in several states said they would
immediately review existing mask requirements.
The Retail Industry Leaders Association said the announcement
creates ambiguity because it fails to fully align with state and
local orders.
"It is critical for customers to remember the CDC announcement is
guidance and that many state and local jurisdictions still have mask
mandates in place that retailers must follow."
Supermarket chain Kroger Co said it would keep its mask requirements
in place "at this time."
Target Corp said it will continue requiring coronavirus safety
measures in all stores, including masks and social distancing, while
it reviews the guidance.
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW),
which represents 1.3 million retail and grocery workers, called the
new guidelines "confusing," adding it "fails to consider how it will
impact essential workers who face frequent exposure to individuals
who are not vaccinated and refuse to wear masks."
The U.S. government last month extended mask requirements across
transportation networks through Sept. 13. The Transportation
Security Administration said it would "work closely with the CDC to
evaluate the need for these directives." Walensky said CDC will soon
issued updated transit guidance.
The new guidance says vaccinated Americans can resume all travel, do
not need to quarantine after international trips and do not need to
be tested for COVID-19 if exposed to someone who is COVID-19
positive but asymptomatic.
However, Americans still face some international travel
restrictions, including non-essential trips to Canada.
Masks became a political issue in the United States with
then-President Donald Trump resisting mandating face coverings while
President Joe Biden embraced masks and mandated them for transit
hubs. Some U.S. states issued aggressive mask mandates while others
declined or dropped them months ago.
The CDC said fully vaccinated people should still wear masks where
required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, and
abide by rules and regulations set by local businesses and
workplaces.
In late April, the CDC said fully vaccinated people can safely
engage in outdoor activities like walking and hiking without masks,
but recommended their continued use in public spaces where they are
required.
Immune-compromised individuals should consult doctors before
shedding masks, and those who are not vaccinated should continue
wearing them, Walensky said.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Steve
Holland and Nandita Bose in Washington, Richa Naidu, Lisa P.
Baertlein and Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; Editing by Franklin Paul
and Bill Berkrot)
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