The CDC has updated its official guidelines (for April 27, 2021) on masks for those fully vaccinated (as well as a few for those who are not). The following are noted in the update:

• Clarification that fully vaccinated workers no longer need to be restricted from work following an exposure as long as they are asymptomatic.
• Fully vaccinated residents of non-healthcare congregate settings no longer need to quarantine following a known exposure.
• Fully vaccinated asymptomatic people without an exposure may be exempted from routine screening testing, if feasible.

The good, better, best scenarios are shown in the partial infographic:

This is great news, but it was just four weeks prior that we read CDC Director Fears ‘Impending Doom’ and the CDC was still recommending the vaccinated to wear masks in public. I think most would not question the sincerity of such concerns or the excellent news of current progress – but what many have questioned for over a year: accuracy of what appear to be contradictory guidelines. Consider the following on the same page. A fully vaccinated people can:

• Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
• Visit with unvaccinated people (including children) from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
• Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings
• Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic
• Refrain from routine screening testing if asymptomatic and feasible