In most countries, fully vaccinated people should remove their masks, according to the CDC.

In most areas, fully vaccinated people would not need to physically distance themselves, according to the CDC. The CDC also hopes that the guidelines will encourage more people to get vaccinated in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday that completely vaccinated people do not need to wear masks outside and should stop wearing them indoors in most areas, according to revised guidelines the agency said would help life return to normal.

In most areas, fully vaccinated people would not need to physically distance themselves, according to the CDC. The CDC also hopes that the guidelines will encourage more people to get vaccinated in the United States.

The White House tweeted, "Big news from the CDC: If you're completely vaccinated, you don't need to wear a mask – indoors or outdoors, in most environments," with a photo that read, "Fully Vaccinated People May STOP Wearing Masks."

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky defended the easing of guidance only two weeks after it was last updated, citing a dramatic decrease in cases, vaccination extension to younger people, and vaccine effectiveness against coronavirus variants.

"We followed the research here," Walensky said, adding that "more science has emerged only in the last week."

Also public health officials have criticised the CDC for being too cautious with its recommendations. People, according to critics, ought to see further value from vaccinations in terms of returning to daily activities.

"We have seen additional evidence in the last few weeks to demonstrate that these vaccines function in the real world, that they stand up to variations, and that vaccinated individuals are less likely to spread the virus," the CDC said in a statement.

"To get this right, we needed to take the time to study the entire body of facts, and that's how we came to this conclusion," the statement continued.

While the updated guidance is a significant step toward returning to pre-pandemic conditions, the CDC also recommends that vaccinated people wear masks on planes and trains, as well as at airports, transit centres, public transportation, and places like hospitals and doctor's offices.

Last month, the US government extended mask standards for all transportation networks until September 13. The CDC, according to Walensky, expects to provide revised transit guidance shortly.

Masks became a political concern in the United States, with then-President Donald Trump opposing their use while Vice President Joe Biden welcomed them and made them mandatory at transit hubs. Few states in the United States have enacted aggressive mask laws, while others have refused or abandoned them months earlier.

Completely vaccinated citizens should also wear masks if needed by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial legislation, and follow all rules and regulations, including those imposed by local businesses and workplace guidelines, according to the CDC.