CDC lifts outdoor masking restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals, updates infection prevention and control recommendations for health care personnel

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today announced relaxed guidance for mask wearing, stating that individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear masks outdoors, except in certain crowd settings and venues. According to CDC’s definition, “fully vaccinated” individuals have reached the 14-day mark after their second doses of Pfizer or Moderna, or their first dose of Johnson & Johnson. The updated guidance also clarifies that fully vaccinated workers no longer need to be restricted from work following an exposure as long as they are asymptomatic. Additionally, fully vaccinated residents of non-health care congregate settings no longer need to quarantine following known exposures.
 
CDC also updated its health care infection prevention and control recommendations for health care personnel, ending its recommendation of expanded screening testing of asymptomatic HCP who are fully vaccinated. The guidance also includes new information on:

• COVID-19 vaccine protection in people who are immunocompromised and
• circumstances when, if all participants are fully vaccinated, visitation or communal activities could occur without use of source control or physical distancing.