People who are fully vaccinated against the new coronavirus can gather privately in small groups without masks or physical distancing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, relaxing safety guidelines for inoculated individuals under some circumstances.
The CDC said Monday that fully vaccinated people should continue to take precautions in most circumstances to prevent the spread of the virus. People who are fully immunized should continue to wear masks and keep their distance from others in public or while visiting unvaccinated people at higher risk for severe cases, the CDC said. The agency, leaving its travel guidance unchanged, said vaccinated people should continue to hold off on long trips.
President Biden said last week that the U.S. would have enough vaccines for all American adults by the end of May. He also has urged Americans to wear masks and maintain social-distancing guidelines, while some cities and states such as Texas have recently said they would loosen such restrictions.
More than 92 million shots have been administered across the U.S., according to CDC data, allowing people who have been vaccinated to navigate life during the pandemic with that added layer of protection against the virus. More than 18% of the U.S. population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to CDC data, and just over 9% of the population has gotten two shots.
In its guidance, the CDC said people who are fully vaccinated against the virus can visit with unvaccinated members of a single household without wearing masks or maintaining social distancing as long as everyone in that household is at low risk for severe cases.
If the unvaccinated people come from multiple households, the CDC said, everyone should take precautions such as meeting outside, wearing masks and maintaining at least six feet of distance. The agency said all people should avoid bigger gatherings for now.
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