CDC issues new guidance on outdoor masks

Changes allow most people to breath a little easier - NBC's Tom Costello explains

WASHINGTON, D.C. (NBC News) - Up until now the recommendation from the CDC has been to wear a mask outdoors, regardless of your vaccine status. New guidance released to eases mandates and takes a big step on the road back to normal.

The great mask debate has been raging across the country for months. Some states require them. Others don't.

Now President Biden and the CDC offer renewed mask guidance, making a distinction between those who have been vaccinated and those who have not.

The numbers of vaccinations are really pretty impressive right now. 95 million Americans have been fully vaccinated. 140 million have a least one dose. And those numbers continue to increase.

Now the CDC suggests the data simply doesn't suggest you are at risk of contracting COVID outdoors. In fact, fewer than 10% of transmissions are related to outdoor activities. But, you are 19 times more likely to contract the virus from indoor transmission.

All of this, of course, as we said, more people are already vaccinated. We're going into warmer weather, more people are outdoors. And so, the guidance changing from both the CDC and the White House.

By the way, some states are already dropping their mask mandates. Kentucky taking its mandate out of effect effective Tuesday.

The guidance will continue to develop throughout the day.