Fully vaccinated people can now keep their masks off outdoors in uncrowded areas.
That’s the new guidance this week from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which made the change based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, while certain guidelines have loosened for vaccinated people, there is still some risk and they should continue taking precautions.
Fully vaccinated people must still mask up in indoor public areas and wear masks when visiting unvaccinated people indoors who have increased risk or who have a household member with increased risk. Vaccinated people are advised to stay away from large in-person gatherings, too.
Vaccinated people should still follow guidance from individual employers, as well as travel recommendations from the health department and CDC.
Here some things fully vaccinated people can do.
They can visit other fully vaccinated people — or visit unvaccinated people from one household who are at low risk — indoors without wearing masks or distancing, and they can visit unvaccinated people.
Fully vaccinated people can travel and do not need to test or self-quarantine before or after travel, unless they travel to another country that requires it. They can refrain from testing or quarantine after an exposure if they are asymptomatic.
However, fully vaccinated people must still get tested if they are symptomatic.
“Today’s CDC announcement allows those who are fully vaccinated the opportunity to spend time outdoors, in some situations, without wearing a mask,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said on Tuesday.
“This is both welcomed and exciting news for individuals who are fully vaccinated and are at a significantly lower risk to serious illness from COVID-19. However, those who are not vaccinated will still need to wear a mask in most situations, and those who are fully vaccinated should still wear a mask when in crowded spaces.”
Vaccinated can stay up-to-date on guidance by visiting https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
