This morning the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made an announcement many have been waiting semi-patiently for over the last few weeks – fully-vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing.

As of this morning, 1.65 million COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered and more than 592,000 Minnesotans have been fully vaccinated. They also don’t have to quarantine or be tested if they’re exposed to the coronavirus and are displaying no symptoms.

If they are more than two weeks past their final shot, full-vaccinated people can meet indoors with unvaccinated members of a single household with low risk without wearing a make of maintaining social distance.

However, people who are fully vaccinated must still take precautions in a couple of scenarios. The fully vaccinated are still required to wear a mask and keep social distance around those who are not vaccinated or in a high-risk COVID-19 group. Masks are also strong suggested when around unvaccinated people from multiple households.

With the full rollout of vaccines on the rise, especially the new one-shot version of the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, it is hoped that restrictions being eased will help convince more people resistant to being vaccinated to get the shots so we can get one step closer to herd immunity by the end of summer.