After months of strict mask mandates put in place in order to keep the North Carolina public safe, Governor Roy Cooper yesterday announced a lift of some of the components of the mandate. The announcement came in two parts.
First, all North Carolinians will be allowed to not wear masks outside, even those not vaccinated. Masks will still be required indoors for both vaccinated and non-vaccinated people. However, vaccinated people will now be allowed to not wear masks outside, due to the low risk the CDC has claimed of these people getting sick or becoming a risk to other, non-vaccinated people. Following with CDC recommendations, Cooper has said that those who are vaccinated can remove their masks in the following sitations:
Outside exercising or walking alone.
Outside in a small group of vaccinated people.
Outside in a small group of vaccinated and non-vaccinated people.
Dining at restaurant outdoors.
Vaccinated people are still recommended to wear face masks in crowds and at concerts and large gatherings outside.
The new mandate (or release of past mandate, for better words) comes as officials struggle to keep daily vaccination rates high as supply outpaces demand for the vaccine in the United States. Experts have estimated that the country must reach 75% vaccination for uncontrolled COVID-19 spread to die down. Currently, the country is at around 50% vaccination.
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