Most mask guidelines for vaccinated are lifted in milestone moment in coronavirus battle
LA TimesZoe Meroney buys clothing from Christopher Castaneda at the Designer Sample Store in Santa Monica on May 4. In a profound sign of America’s progress against COVID-19, federal officials on Thursday announced a sweeping relaxation of face mask guidelines, which now suggest fully vaccinated people can stop wearing masks in most places — either outdoors or inside. And unvaccinated people who “remain at risk of mild or severe illness, of death or of spreading the disease to others” should still wear masks and get vaccinated right away, she said. “If things get worse, there is always a chance we may need to make a change to these recommendations,” Walensky said, “but we know that the more people are vaccinated, the less cases we will have and the less chance of a new spike or additional variant emerging.” Walensky said the agency also will be updating all of its guidance — including for travel. “Private businesses can enforce vaccination requirements.” California’s rules, last updated May 3, generally require masks to be worn by everyone indoors whenever you’re outside your home, with exceptions, such as when you’re outside a workplace setting and everyone indoors is vaccinated; or when there are only members of one unvaccinated household present and all have a low risk of severe complications should they get COVID-19.