Boone County health officials studying new CDC outdoor mask guidelines
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Boone County remains under the same health orders, including mask requirements, after federal officials unveiled new guidelines Tuesday relaxing mask requirements for vaccinated people who are outdoors.
But health officials are studying the new guidance to see if local orders should be changed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that fully vaccinated Americans can safely go without masks in outdoor settings. People are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their final coronavirus shot.
"If you are fully vaccinated and want to attend a small outdoor gathering with people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated, or dine at an outdoor restaurant with people from multiple households, the science shows, if you are vaccinated, you can do so safely," said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
Watch playback of President Joe Biden's remarks on the coronavirus pandemic in the player below.
The CDC website states a fully vaccinated person can safely participate in many activities including attending a crowded, outdoor event such as a live performance, parade or sports event with a mask on. Fully vaccinated people can also participate in many outdoor activities safely without a mask on. It is recommended unvaccinated people should still be masked.
The current Columbia/Boone County Health and Human Services health order states that when individuals cannot maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet, they should be wearing masks for their safety. This includes both indoor and outdoor spaces.
"Masks are required in any public setting so if you're say at a restaurant or business, masks would be required when you enter the building and then can come off when you're seated or eating," Sara Humm of the Columbia/Boone County Health Department said.
The mask rule has exceptions including people with certain medical conditions, mental health conditions or disability which prevents wearing of a mask. This exception requires the person not wearing a mask to keep their distance from anyone not in their household.
"The big thing with masking is, are you able to social distance and then also who you're with," Humm said.
The current health order is set to expire May 12. The order was extended April 13, with officials citing an increase in COVID-19 infections and the U.K. coronavirus variant first reported in Boone County on April 7.
"One of the reasons the current health order was extended was to allow more time for folks to become vaccinated," Humm said. "We have really good rates here in Boone County but that doesn't mean that we're out of it just yet."
Humm said the health department will review the CDC's recommendation on masking to see if it will make any changes to the health order.
According to the state dashboard, 43.4% of Boone County residents have received one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Boone County is currently the most-vaccinated jurisdiction in Missouri.
To date, 3,767,886 first and second dose shots have been given out in Missouri.
Check back for updates to this developing story and watch ABC 17 News at 5 and 6.
