‘The Situation Has Changed’: Fauci Explains CDC’s Shift In Mask Mandates

"I think this is a very important step in the direction of trying to get back to some degree of normality," the doctor said.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, championed the recent decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to relax mask mandates for fully vaccinated Americans, saying the situation in the U.S. had changed amid a vaccination blitz and plummeting numbers of COVID-19 infections. “The data that’s accumulated now is that clearly the infections are going down,” Fauci told CNN host Jake Tapper on Thursday. “They’re averaging about 36,000 a day right now, which has gone down about a third. As you mentioned, 58% of people have at least one dose ― shot of a vaccine ― and greater than 40% are fully vaccinated, so the situation has changed.” The CDC on Thursday eased mask-wearing requirements for the fully vaccinated, saying many Americans could “resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.” The updated rules mean people can forgo face coverings and social distancing even indoors.