The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took an important step on Tuesday to lure Americans into a post-pandemic world. They have relaxed the rules for wearing masks outdoors as coronavirus cases decline and people scrape at restrictions.
The mask tour is humble and carefully written: Americans who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus no longer need to wear a mask outdoors, while walking, running, hiking, or biking alone or in small gatherings, including with members of their own household. Masks are still required in crowded outdoor venues such as sports stadiums, the CDC said.
But President Biden hailed it as a milestone in the pandemic. He wore a mask as he approached the lectern in the White House grounds on a warm spring day – and held it off sharply as he walked back into the White House when he was finished.
“Go get the shot. It’s never been easier, ”said Biden. “And once you are fully vaccinated, you can do without a mask when you are outside and away from crowds.”
The CDC stopped telling even fully vaccinated people that they could take off their masks completely outdoors – citing the worrying risk that remains for the transmission of the coronavirus, unknown vaccination levels in people in crowds and the still high case numbers in some regions of the country. The instructions also warned vaccinated people not to go without a mask at medium-sized outdoor gatherings.
But even the director of the CDC, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, emphasizing a more expansive interpretation, told reporters at a briefing at the White House, “We no longer feel that the vaccinated people need masks in the open air,” outside of “large public venues like concerts, stadiums and the like.”
On Capitol Hill, a group of Republican lawmakers who are also medical professionals posted a vaccination advertisement Tuesday wearing white coats with stethoscopes around their necks. Senator Roger Marshall, a newly minted Republican from Kansas and a doctor, told viewers the reason for the vaccination was simple: “So we can throw away our masks and live life as freely as before.”
Mr Marshall, who organized the effort, said it was based on research by Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster who worked to reduce vaccine reluctance among conservatives. In an interview, Mr Luntz said Mr Biden’s announcement was a positive move and could give people who are not vaccinated a reason to get their shots.
For Mr Biden, who will address Congress on Wednesday and will celebrate his 100th day in office on Thursday, the CDC announcement was a moment to learn about the “amazing progress” Americans have made since taking office . Next week, he said, he will outline a plan “to bring us to July 4th as our target date, to bring life in America closer to normal and to celebrate our independence from the virus”.
Since the pandemic began, Americans have been misled about wearing masks when senior health officials said people didn’t need them – also because of the severe lack of protective equipment for frontline health workers. Masks became the centerpiece of the culture wars that surrounded the pandemic, especially after President Donald J. Trump insisted they were voluntary and he wouldn’t wear one.
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