Nearly every US state is dropping mask mandates for fully vaccinated people following new CDC guidelines. Here are the current rules in different states.


New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The CDC said Thursday that fully vaccinated Americans don't need a mask in most spaces, including indoors.

But states can ultimately decide their own rules on mask wearing.

Most states relaxed their mask rules, while a few, including California, said they would relax them soon.

Fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear a mask outside or in most indoor spaces, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in guidelines Thursday. Most states immediately took the guidance on board.

States and businesses can still maintain their existing mask rules if they want, and some retailers have already said that fully vaccinated people must continue to wear masks in-store.

After the CDC issued its guidelines, at least fourteen states said they would relax mask-wearing rules. These included Minnesota, Kentucky, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, Illinois, Connecticut, North Carolina, Michigan, Maryland, Maine, Virginia, and New York.

California said before the CDC announcement that it would lift its mask mandate on June 15.

New Jersey said it was keeping its mask requirements while they review the evidence - making it the only state yet to announce a rule change.

Some states had already got rid of mask mandates before the CDC's guidelines, including Texas, Montana, Iowa, North Dakota, and Mississippi.

Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have not enforced state-wide mask mandates throughout the pandemic.

Here is how states have reacted to the CDC's new mask guidelines.

Minnesota
Gov. Tim Walz said in a press conference Thursday that Minnesota's mask mandate would be dropped completely for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people from Friday.

The confusion of two sets of rules would be "untenable and unworkable," he said.

Private businesses and local governments could keep mask mandates in place, though, he said.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement that the city's indoor mask requirement would stay in place while her team reviewed the data, consulted health experts, and analyzed the "unique circumstances and vaccination rates for our communities across our city."

Jan Malcolm, health commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Health, recommended that masks should be worn for those who aren't fully vaccinated, but said dividing people into vaccinated and unvaccinated wasn't "practically enforceable"

Kentucky
Gov. Andy Beshear said in a video posted on Twitter Thursday that Kentucky would immediately follow the CDC guidance.

"You ought to go get your shot of hope if you haven't," Beshear said. "If you get vaccinated, the CDC says it's safe to take that mask off."

Nevada
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said on Twitter Thursday that Nevada would immediately follow the latest CDC recommendations.

Oregon
Gov. Kate Brown said in a video address Thursday that Oregon would follow the CDC guidance for vaccinated individuals with immediate effect.

"Some businesses may prefer to simply continue operating under the current guidance for now, rather than worrying about verifying vaccination status, and that's fine," Brown said.

Pennsylvania
Alison Beam, acting secretary of Pennsylvania's department of health, said in a statement Thursday that the CDC's guidelines would automatically go into effect in the state for vaccinated Pennsylvanians.

If you're not vaccinated, then the state's current order requires you to wear a mask until Pennsylvania reaches 70% vaccinations in people aged 18 and over.

Washington
Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday that the state would adopt the CDC guidance with immediate effect. Inslee said that individual businesses may require masks for vaccinated people, but that there was no requirement from the state.

"This is a heck of a benefit for people who have been annoyed by this mask," Inslee said. "This is a ticket to freedom, that shot is a ticket to freedom from masks, and we hope people will avail themselves to it."

Illinois
Gov. JB Pritzker said on Twitter Thursday that he would revise his executive orders in line with the CDC's guidelines for vaccinated people.

"The scientists' message is clear: if you are vaccinated, you can safely do much more," he said.

Connecticut
Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday that fully vaccinated people in Connecticut no longer needed a mask in most cases from May 19, in line with the CDC guidance. Unvaccinated people in Connecticut will still require them, though.

Lamont said that he hoped people would "do the right thing," and that proof of vaccination would not be required.

Masks in school will be in place until the end of the school year, he said.

North Carolina
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper speaks to supporters while joined by his wife Kristin during a primary election night party in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, March 3, 2020. AP Photo/Gerry Broome
Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement Friday that the state will remove its indoor mask mandate in most settings for fully vaccinated people in line with CDC guidance.

Michigan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday on Twitter that from Saturday, all Michiganders that are two weeks out from their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can go without a mask indoors and outdoors.

Maryland
Gov. Larry Hogan said in a news conference Friday that the state would be lifting the mask mandate Saturday, in line with the CDC guidance.

Maine
Gov. Janet Mills said in a statement Friday that Maine was adopting the CDC's recommendations from May 24.

Virginia
Gov. Ralph Northam lifted Virginia's universal mask mandate from Friday midnight to align with the CDC guidance.

"It's very simple. It's either a shot, or a mask. It's up to you," Northam said.

New York
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Monday that New York state was adopting the CDC guidance, and from May 19 New Yorkers no longer required masks if they're fully vaccinated.

"Be respectful of those who may still feel safest wearing their mask in public and business owners who may still ask patrons to don their mask," Cuomo added.

Massachusetts
A new face-covering mandate that's in keeping with the CDC recommendations will come into effect in Massachusetts from May 29.

At the moment, everyone over 5 years-old in Massachusetts must wear a face covering regardless of vaccination status in all indoor public spaces, and outside if physical distancing from non-household members is not possible.

New Jersey
The press secretary for Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement Thursday that Murphy and the New Jersey Department of Health were reviewing the new CDC guidance on mask requirements.

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