Fully vaccinated people can gather without masks or social distancing, according to the CDC

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday that people fully vaccinated against the coronavirus are able to gather indoors without the use of masks or social distancing.

Fully vaccinated people can also gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household without masks unless these individuals have an increased risk for developing COVID-19.

Fully vaccinated individuals also do not need to quarantine or get tested if exposed to the novel coronavirus unless they are showing symptoms. The CDC says the exception to this rule is if the individuals live in a group setting such as a jail or group home. These individuals should still quarantine for 14 days and get tested for COVID-19 even if symptoms don't pop up.

According to the CDC, people are considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or their only dose of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine.

Chezney Schulte, nurse and communicable disease coordinator for the Cole County Health Department, said the new guidance is good for the public if people follow it correctly.

"I think it's important that people understand truly what the CDC is saying," Schulte said. "There's still guidance and basic preventative practices that you should take if even if you are fully vaccinated."

The CDC still recommends people who are fully vaccinated should wear masks and use social distance when in public. Medium and large gatherings are still discouraged by the CDC.

Schulte said she believes this new recommendation may cause a change in social interactions on a corporate level. According to the CDC, employees still need to follow coronavirus guidance at the workplace.

"Some of the organizations or businesses in the county may change their guidance," Schulte said. "Since this is CDC guidance on a national level, I think we may see some of that change happening."

She says as an employee of the Cole County Health Department and nurse, this news is a step in the right direction.

"These new changes in CDC guidance makes people so hopeful," Schulte said. "It's exciting to see a difference. For such a long time we were inundated with the bad news of COVID-19 and it's certainly still out there...but (this new recommendation is) also something to get excited about. We are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel."

The state reports more than 1.5 million shots administered to Missouri residents, with more than 1 million people receiving their first shot. More than 21% of Boone County's population has received a first dose along with more than 19% of Cole County.

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