CDC Director: Vaccinated People Don’t Need to Wear Masks Amid Delta COVID-19 Variant Fears

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testifies during a U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing to examine the COVID-19 response, focusing on an update from federal officials, on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 18, 2021. Susan Walsh/Pool via Reuters

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky issued a clarification on the COVID-19 “Delta” variant, proclaiming that fully vaccinated individuals are protected against the strain and don’t need to wear masks.

Some municipalities—including Los Angeles County—and a number of countries, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), have recommended mask-wearing in recent days due to the Delta COVID-19 strain. Such guidance has triggered confusion about whether the virus can affect vaccinated individuals and prompted fears that health officials would reimplement more lockdowns or other measures.