The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks when they are outdoors, unless they are in a big crowd of strangers.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announced the change in guidance Tuesday morning.
The CDC also says that unvaccinated people may be able to drop their masks in certain cases as well.
Previously, the CDC had said that everyone should wear masks outdoors whenever they come within six feet of someone who is not in their household.
The change comes as more than half of American adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and more than a third are fully vaccinated. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Some studies have also shown that about 10% of coronavirus transmissions happen outdoors.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.