With summer around the corner, Americans are beginning to see the restrictions on masks loosen. The CDC recently announced on April 27 that fully vaccinated people are no longer required to wear a mask outdoors. That being said, partaking in outdoor activities, such as jogging and biking, or eating at outdoor restaurants are now permitted. However, officials still state that crowded settings and venues are exceptions to the easing of these precautions. For those who have not been vaccinated, the previous stringent guidelines still follow. Even the completely vaccinated still face many limits to the actions and contact they can make. Nonetheless, Americans are feeling a greater sense of normalcy as progress is made during this pandemic.
As of May 6, the CDC’s website reports that about 45% of the total population and 57% of those 18 and older have received at least one shot from the vaccination series. For teenagers, only those who are 16 and older are currently able to receive the vaccine under emergency authorization. In an effort to increase the number of vaccinated students before the next school year, Pfizer has been working towards expanding the use of vaccines for those between the ages of 12-15. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to deliver the decision of authorizing the vaccine for this age group early next week. [Update: the FDA has approved Pfizer’s request to extend vaccines to 12-15-year-olds]. Although vaccines lower the risk of being infected by COVID-19, people should always keep in mind that they are still susceptible to infection, especially when finding themselves in high-risk settings. Further updates and statistics may be found at the CDC’s official website (cdc). Reported by Christine Song Comments are closed.
|