We’ve been wearing face masks pretty much everywhere outside out home for the past year. At this point, face masks have even become a fashion statement. While some people feel that it’s time to take off the face masks, not everyone agrees.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently updated their face mask guidance. It used to be highly recommended that everyone wear a face mask in any public space where you’re with people outside your immediate household. Now that many Americans have been vaccinated for COVID-19, the CDC has updated the guidance.

In order to be considered fully vaccinated, two weeks need to have passed since your Johnson & Johnson shot or your second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer shot. Once this time has passed, the CDC says that “you can start doing many things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.”

That’s great news! But, what things?

According to the CDC’s new guidance, fully vaccinated people can exercise outside, attend small outdoor gatherings (with vaccinated and unvaccinated people), and eat outside at restaurants without wearing a face mask. The CDC considers all of those activities safe for vaccinated people people.

In addition, vaccinated people can safely enjoy activities like crowded outdoor events, crowded indoor events, indoor parties, movie theaters, eating inside at restaurants and exercising inside at gyms. For these activities, the CDC recommends that vaccinated people wear a face mask, but with a face mask on, these activities are considered safe.

In contrast, if you are not vaccinated, the CDC considers activities like going to a movie theater, eating inside at a restaurant, and attending a crowded outdoor event extremely risky even while wearing a face mask.

The CDC wants us to remember that outdoor activities are in general considered safer than indoor activities. In addition, it’s important to consider the risk of COVID-19 in your local community as well as how many people will be attending the event.

Are you fully vaccinated? Are you looking forward to take off your face mask in more places?