Since vaccines have been made available to everyone the number of coronavirus cases has decreased. As people are starting to get vaccinated the regulations for Covid safety have lowered and some places have allowed for people to be mask free. However this applies only to people that are fully vaccinated. People that haven’t been vaccinated or have only gotten the first dose are required and should wear a mask everywhere they go for safety. 

According to the CDC, people that are fully vaccinated can continue doing activities they once did before the pandemic without wearing a mask or social distancing. However, they do have to wear masks if it is required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine. If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. When traveling, regardless of being fully vaccinated, you still have to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. 

Based on NBC News, many places have dropped the mask requirements for people who are fully vaccinated. Though on some occasions fully vaccinated people may still be asked to wear masks in certain places, such as in hospitals or other health care settings, as well as public transportation. Vaccines aren’t perfect and infections can occur even after getting fully vaccinated. More than 117 million people in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated, while only 9,245 later tested positive for Covid-19. Some people may feel more comfortable wearing a mask even after being fully vaccinated and are encouraged to if it helps them feel safe. For now, the CDC guidance applies only to those who have been fully vaccinated. Soon, that group will include children ages 12 and older as the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration have both signed off on Covid-19 vaccines for that age group. For those who remain unvaccinated or who have only had a single dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, Walensky advised it is necessary to continue to wear masks.

The CNBC News reports that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Target, CVS Health and Starbucks eased mask requirements for fully vaccinated customers, unless facial coverings are required by local or state law. When the CDC said that fully vaccinated people don’t have to cover their faces indoors anymore, companies began changing their policies for wearing masks inside stores and cafes. Walmart, Costco, Trader Joe’s and Publix were among the first to allow mask-free shopping. However Home Depot, Gap and Ulta Beauty are among those that want to be extra cautious and keep the mask requirements even if people are fully vaccinated. CVS said it would still require its employees to wear masks while at work. Chipotle restaurant workers will still be required to wear masks, according to Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Laurie Schalow. Target said in a statement that it’s employees who are fully vaccinated will not have to wear masks — but said it would keep other safety measures, such as extra cleaning and social distancing in its stores. Starbucks’ new mask policy does not appear to apply to baristas. Though there has been an ease in covid restrictions the debate whether you should wear masks is up to whether you have been vaccinated or not. People should still review CDC guidelines and view your local and state laws for wearing masks.