On May 14, 2021, the CDC announced that fully vaccinated individuals may shed masks in most indoor settings (with guidelines for certain circumstances)
This is yet another milestone as our lives begin to normalize after over a year of isolation due to COVID-19 mitigation strategies, and many find themselves hopeful for the future.
Individuals have a right to be eager to return to open social settings. Per Mercy Care there are numerous health benefits to social gatherings that many have pined for these past months.
Per their article, “Social networks and online interactions may give people a false sense of connectedness. We still need physic in-person connections for our own mental health. Schedule time with friends (in-person) on a regular basis to avoid loneliness. It doesn’t have to be a full night out. It could be a 15 minute walk with a neighbor or meeting up for a quick coffee.”
However, it should be noted that as things open up, they are opening up by and large for fully vaccinated individuals. Besides the benefit of helping to safeguard against the COVID-19 virus, vaccinations also mean a quicker return to safe and ethical social gatherings.
If you haven’t received one or both of any of the available vaccines, please consider following updates on https://vaccinate.iowa.gov/ to ensure you are fully vaccinated as soon as possible.