The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated a public health guidance saying that the vaccinated teachers and children do not need to wear a mask inside the school premises amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The guidance has come into effect two months after the government permitted the use of Pfizer-BioNtech shots to 12-15-year-old children and allowed giving shots to middle and high school ahead of the fall semester.
The guidance also stated that in case the teachers and children are not vaccinated yet, then they have to continue wearing masks in the school building as per safety protocols.
The CDC also stated that teachers and students should maintain rules such as maintaining 3 feet physical distance, wearing a mask while visiting schools, and mandatory steps previously stated by the agency.
The updated guidance comes as several states across the U.S. have largely done away with physical distancing, mask requirements and other pandemic restrictions as the COVID-19 vaccination drive has helped contain infections.
The federal government’s mask mandate will expire on September 13 unless the CDC extends till further order.
Experts have warned people to get vaccinated as the Delta variant is one of the deadliest and it will affect the low vaccinated parts of the country.
“I could foresee that in certain parts of the country, there could be a reintroduction of indoor mask mandates, distancing and occupancy limits in the coming months,” said Lawrence Gostin, director of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law.
