Fully vaccinated families congregating indoors for the Christmas holiday will not be required to wear masks if their children have received both doses of the vaccine, advised Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Biden administration’s chief medical adviser, as COVID-19 cases climbed nationally following months of decline.
“Looking ahead to Christmas right now since we can vaccinate children from five to 11. You start vaccinating them now, they will be fully vaccinated by the time we get to the Christmas holidays,” Fauci said on CNN‘s State of the Union Sunday.
Enjoy your holiday season with your family, grandparents and children indoors, he said.
Fauci, however, warned that individuals should wear masks when congregating indoors with people who have not shared their vaccination status, such as at grocery stores or on buses and trains where individuals don’t need to show proof of vaccination for entry.
“Get vaccinated and you can enjoy the holidays very easily. And if you’re not, please be careful,” he added. “Get yourself vaccinated and you can continue to enjoy interactions with your family and others.”
Newsweek reached out to the CDC for comment.
This is a developing story.
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