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Vaccinated Americans don't need a mask most of the time, CDC says



By Helen Regan, Adam Renton, Aditi Sangal, Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Veronica Rocha and Melissa Mahtani, CNN

Updated 10:25 PM ET, Thu May 13, 2021


What you need to know


  • The US CDC announced people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 do not need to wear masks or practice social distancing indoors or outdoors, except under special circumstances.

  • Two Indian states and the union territory of Delhi have suspended Covid-19 vaccinations for people ages 18 to 44 due to shortages.

  • The true global pandemic death toll could be as high as 6.9 million — more than double official figures — a new analysis from the University of Washington shows.

Our live coverage has ended for the day. Follow the latest on the pandemic here.



CDC says fully vaccinated people can take off their masks indoors and outdoors


From CNN’s John Bonifield and Elizabeth Cohen


Calling it “an exciting and powerful moment,” the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 do not need to wear masks or practice social distancing indoors or outdoors, except under special circumstances.


“If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House Covid-19 Response Team briefing. “We have all longed for this moment when we can get back to some sense of normalcy.”


She said the science supports the new recommendation that “anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities – large or small – without wearing a mask or physically distancing.”


Walensky’s announcement has a few caveats. She warned that people who are immune compromised should speak with their doctors before giving up their masks.


She also said that “the past year has shown us that this virus can be unpredictable, so if things get worse, there is always a chance we may need to make change to the recommendations.”



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