CDC says vaccinated people no longer need masks as Biden declares victory over COVID

The CDC announces that fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear masks or socially distance in most indoor settings, a policy Biden frames as a major milestone. "If you're fully vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask," Biden says, appearing without a mask outside the White House for the first time. Critics and public health experts warn the announcement is premature given vaccination rates well below herd immunity and the emerging Delta variant. The declaration accelerates pressure on states to drop mask mandates regardless of vaccination status, and is later seen as a messaging error that contributed to the Delta wave.