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Breaking: CDC relaxes mask guidelines for fully vaccinated Americans when outdoors

April 27, 2021
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2 min read
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Breaking: CDC relaxes mask guidelines for fully vaccinated Americans when outdoors
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Tuesday that fully vaccinated Americans can partake in some outdoor activities without wearing a mask.

People who have been fully vaccinated (and wait two weeks after receiving their second dose, when applicable) can exercise alone or gather with small groups outside without wearing a mask, the CDC has said. Eating maskless at an outdoor restaurant is also acceptable. However, the CDC said people should still wear a mask when in large settings such as concerts.

The CDC's guidance does not specifically mention privately-owned theme parks, ski resorts or beaches, which could be considered crowded outdoor spaces and therefore masks might still be recommended. We will be watching closely at TPG to see how local governments and private resort owners and operators react to the new guidance.

The CDC has said that masks "may not be necessary" for fully vaccinated Americans who are outside alone or with people from the same household. However, some areas may have public mask mandates that still take precedent, and there continue to be federal mask mandates at places such as airports.

This newest update comes more than a month after the CDC updated its guidelines to say that people who have been fully vaccinated could visit indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing masks or social distancing. People who have been fully vaccinated can also avoid quarantine and testing if they’ve been exposed to COVID-19 but remain asymptomatic.

The CDC says these guidelines apply to people who have had both two-dose vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) or a one-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson), and it’s been two weeks after they received the last dose.

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The CDC also updated travel guidelines earlier this month, saying that fully vaccinated Americans can travel at “low-risk” to themselves.

At this time, nearly 100 million people in the United States have now been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Featured image by Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.