CDC states those who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks

People who are fully vaccinated will not be required to wear a face mask or practice social distancing indoors or outdoors.

By Anthony Lopez, Staff Writer

Shoppers and staff at Trader Joe's local grocery store in Granada Hills continue to wear masks even though, on Thursday, May 13, the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask indoors or outdoors. Friday, May 21, 2021, Granada Hills, Calif. (Photo by Margarita Garushyan/The Valley Star)

Although people who are fully vaccinated are not required by federal law to wear masks or practice social distancing indoors or outdoors, California officials are waiting until June 15 to lift the mask mandate.

In an announcement by CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on May 13, people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not need to practice social distancing or wear face coverings. The CDC goes further in-depth by stating that fully vaccinated individuals can resume normal activities as they did prior to the pandemic.

"If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic," Walensky said during a White House briefing. "Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities — large or small — without wearing a mask or physical distancing.”

According to an article from the Los Angeles Times, more than half of California residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine — approximately 19.6 million people. Overall, about 38 percent of residents are fully vaccinated, meaning they have either received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or just the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

President Joe Biden took to Instagram, stating that over the next six weeks his administration will send 80 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine overseas. Biden went on to share his thoughts about unmasking America.

“The science now shows that your vaccination protects you as well as being masked or better than being masked,” Biden said in an LA Times article. “So you can protect yourself from serious illness from COVID by getting vaccinated or wearing a mask until you’re fully vaccinated. Either way, you’re protected.”

The staff of Granada Hills' Trader Joe's grocery store continue to wear masks even though, on Thursday, May 13, the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask indoors or outdoors. Friday, May 21, 2021. Granada Hills, Calif. (Photo by Margarita Garushyan/The Valley Star)

California is one of two states — along with New Jersey — in America that are waiting to lift the mask mandate.

According to the LA Times, “Californians fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can go mask-free in most indoor settings starting June 15 — which is also the target date for reopening the state’s economy, officials announced.”

State officials believe that holding off until June 15 to revise the mask policy will give California time to lead into the dramatic change.

"This four-week period will give Californians time to prepare for this change while we continue the relentless focus to provide vaccines," Health and Human Service Secretary Mark Ghaly said in a recent Politico article.