New CDC Guidance Ends Masks Outdoors & Uncrowded Indoor Settings for Vaccinated!
New face mask guidance from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the latest set of recommendations for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people. In this post, we’ll take a look at the updated May 13, 2021 guidelines, plus what this could mean for Walt Disney World.
This comes two weeks after the last update for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people. In case you missed it, we covered that in New CDC Mask Guidance Won’t Impact Walt Disney World. The title there really says it all—those new guidelines didn’t have any impact on theme parks because they fall under the category of crowded settings.
More locally, it also follows Orange County’s three-phased plan to end health safety mandates. While Central Florida theme parks have not yet acted on the new CDC guidance, both Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World have both since followed suit and reduced physical distancing in the parks. That’s just the latest of many changes on the health safety protocol front in recent weeks at Walt Disney World. Temperature checks are going away soon thanks to guidance from Orange County and the State of Florida.
The May 2021 update from the CDC comes as the vaccination campaign begins to pay off for the United States both in terms of the number of fully vaccinated individuals and other metrics. Daily cases are down 30% in the last two weeks, to their lowest level since last September, deaths are at their lowest point since last April, and the test positivity rate is at the lowest point since the pandemic began.
Approximately 154 million Americans, which is roughly 46% of the population, have received at least one dose of the vaccines and more than 117 million are fully vaccinated. The pace of new vaccinations slowed in the last few weeks, plateauing more recently. However, the authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for adolescents ages 12 to 15 should provide a new spike of demand for the next few weeks.
For all of these reasons, the CDC has issued new guidance that allows fully vaccinated individuals to safely stop wearing masks outdoors and indoors in most places CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announced.
“We have all longed for this moment when we can get back to some sense of normalcy,” Walensky said during a media briefing Thursday. “Based on the continuing downward trajectory of cases, the scientific data on the performance of our vaccines, and our understanding of how the virus spreads,” she said. “That moment has come for those who are fully vaccinated.”
“If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic,” Walensky said. “Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities – large or small – without wearing a mask or physically distancing.”
This could ease restrictions for reopening workplaces, schools, and other venues as it would remove the need for masks or physical distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.
The CDC also no longer recommends that fully vaccinated people wear masks outdoors in crowds.
With that said, the new CDC guidance does still call for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like public transportation, planes, hospitals, airports, and other settings–which unquestionably includes Walt Disney World.
These changes also come as a growing body of scientific evidence indicates that the vaccines prevent asymptomatic infections, and by extension, transmission to others. Evidence from real world studies in the U.S. and Israel shows the vaccines are as strongly protective in real-world use as they were in earlier studies, and the vaccines continue to work even as variants are spreading.
There have been breakthrough infections among vaccinated people in the United States, a small number among more than 117 million people in the United States who are now fully vaccinated. However, the resulting infection is more likely to have a lower viral load, be shorter in duration, and far lower likelihood of transmission to others. The risk of hospitalization or death from infection is virtually nonexistent for the fully vaccinated.
In our commentary to the CDC’s update two weeks ago, we expressed some disappointment about the “slow roll” on rule relaxation, which didn’t go as far as we would’ve liked. At the time, we doubted that it would help with the stated goal of incentivizing vaccine uptake since it still recommended fully vaccinated individuals wear masks even in low-risk scenarios.
By contrast, our view is that this is a hugely positive update from the CDC. It offers a high degree of normalcy for the fully vaccinated, which has a solid foundation in current science. Equally as significant, it comports with public expectations and doesn’t put the CDC out of step with actual behavior.
It’s worth noting that CDC guidance is just that–guidance. Except for in some settings, it doesn’t make rules or law, it just offers recommendations to states, localities, and businesses.
In other words, private businesses can still operate with any self-imposed restrictions. That means Walt Disney World, Universal, Trader Joe’s, or any other business can still require masks for entry and kick out anyone not adhering to their rules. This really isn’t anything new or novel. Those same businesses could deny entry to potential patrons not wearing shirts or shoes, despite there being no guidance or law requiring either of those articles of clothing, either.
With that said, CDC guidance is significant with regard to Walt Disney World because the company has relied upon CDC recommendations when creating or modifying its rules. As we’ve stated previously, any new CDC guidance has the potential to be a game-changer for Walt Disney World.
However, that’s only the case when the recommendations apply to both the vaccinated and unvaccinated. This is because Disney does not, and will not, distinguish between the two.
In practice, this comes down to logistics. Having two classes of guests that would be a nightmare scenario for enforcement, and overly burdensome to frontline Cast Members. Walt Disney World already has significant issues with employee morale and turnover as a result of enforcing face mask rules; that would only worsen if Cast Members were tasked with determining who is “eligible” to go mask-less in the parks.
Even if the company wanted to do so (and there’s ample evidence it does not), it’s simply not practical. There’s no sense in debating this–it’s a non starter. However, it is always possible that Disney could take a hands-off approach either to the rule or enforcement. That’s already started to occur with physical distancing, and it’s probably not too far off with face masks. Having Cast Members continue to police that when fewer society-wide rules in place is going to be increasingly less viable.
Ultimately, we’re not anticipating an immediate face mask rule relaxation from Walt Disney World as a result of the new CDC guidance. Other businesses will probably drop their mask policies and leave it up to the individual to make personal risk assessments and mitigation, but not Disney–at least, not in the immediate future.
Just last week, Walt Disney World hinted that face masks might be required until at least November 2021. While we also do not think that’ll end up being the case, Disney will probably be a bit more slow-moving and conservative in making changes. CDC guidance, local mandates, and rules established by businesses will continue to evolve.
With that said, our expectation is still that Walt Disney World will continue to relax its health safety protocol over the coming months, especially as case numbers continue dropping and vaccinations continue climbing. As the former continues to fall and the latter rises, we can expect more changes and normalcy returning. In such a scenario, the overall risk drops for everyone, even the unvaccinated. With the company’s earnings call happening later today, our hope and expectation is that Disney will at least hint at its future plans in terms of health safety protocol this summer and beyond. We’ll keep you posted on that–and send out an update to subscribers of our free email newsletter tonight!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Thoughts on the CDC recommending that anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing? Do you view that move as a net positive or negative in returning to normal? Are you hoping that Disney follows suit, or keeps its mask rules in place longer? Please keep the comments civil. This is not the place for arguing about efficacy, politics, and so forth—all such comments will be deleted, irrespective of perspective. You are not going to change anyone’s mind via the comments section on this blog, nor are you going to change Disney’s rules or public policy. If you wish to contest this, rather than yelling into the internet abyss, have your voice heard in a meaningful way by contacting Disney or your local elected officials.
This is definitely a step in the right direction, but I doubt it will be enough for Disney to drop mask requirements yet. For one thing there’s no way for Disney to distinguish between vaccinated and non-vaccinated people and Florida has made it illegal for them to even try to do so. Also, while we are close to 60% of adults having at least one shot, children 12 and up (a substantial amount of Disney visitors) have just started to be eligible for vaccination. I think Disney is going to wait until at least a decent amount of that groups gets the vaccine before they drop anything.
Finally, while it’s possible Disney drops the mask mandate outdoors, I don’t think they are going to want CMs to deal with the hassle of the indoor/outdoor debate with guests. It’s easier to just wait and drop it all at once.
Finally – though unvaccinated people shouldn’t have to wear masks either. If you are vaccinated you’re good and protected, if you’re not it is your choice and so many have had natural immunity!
CDC is so slow but the public is speaking now and over and done: they had to do this.
I hope at least by our trip in August we do not have to wear them outdoors. I can handle it indoors but would rather not have to wear them. I have not been wearing them in my life for the last month or so. My child’s school dropped them as well, leaving it recommended as all staff are vaccinated.
Watching this thread.
@Shelly, meant to get some of those to try for our January trip but forgot to order them in time. At least the weather wasn’t too bad then! But for our upcoming trip in Sept-Oct, I hope masks are totally gone or at a minimum only for crowded spaces indoors. At that point I don’t know if I’d want to haul a bulky frame around.
@DisneyMom, not wanting to get an injection of an experimental gene therapy product which is neither an actual vaccine nor approved by the FDA doesn’t make you an anti-vaxxer either. There are a whole lot of those out there too. No way will Disney put CMs in a position to argue with or break up potential fights. As a former CM, I can assure you of that.
So far the science seems to point to natural immunity not being as long lasting. I do not think prior Covid infection is the reason for vaccine hesitancy, and have not read anything to support that, but correct me if you’ve seen anything to suggest that. Most everyone I who recovered from Covid has now also been vaccinated.
Calvin, I haven’t been to Disney since they reopened, but I’ve been advised that mask brackets are a life-saver in the heat and humidity. Those are the plastic frames that go under the mask to keep it off your face slightly. They’re pretty cheap off of Amazon.
Tom,
Great point. Natural immunity is not being discussed. I wish there was more guidance on what to do if you were infected before it was your turn for the Fauci Ouchie. It sucks to be labeled when all you’re doing is following your Doc’s orders.
(Recently infected and waiting does not equal being an antivaxxer.)
I understand why Disney may drag their feet as a COA type of deal, but I imagine that as vax rates continue to rise we’ll at least see physical distancing shrink more even if they keep the masks for indoors activity.
I am going in September. Hopefully mask rules will b Lowered by then. Hopefully dining plan will Return as well.
Well, it’s about time! Far past it, actually…
I wonder if simply moving from a “face masks are required” policy to a strongly worried “face masks are highly recommended” type policy/disclaimer would enable Disney to save face (ie health and safety remains our type priority) while officially ending the mandate? They seem to be paving the way for this with the language re: vaccines.
I think your theory is entirely plausible. My guess is we’ll first see a mask rule relaxation outdoors, followed by a blanket recommendation as opposed to a rule.
My question has absolutely nothing to do with the article you posted, but the news is good and heading in the right direction. My question to you and the readers on this site is this: What are the best WDW resort gift shops. We want to resort hop a bit on our next trip and are interested in checking out the gift shops at those resorts. Any recs are appreciated. P.S. Our trip won’t happen until WDW gives the all clear for everything so resort hopping won’t be an issue. Thanks
The gift shops are not particularly noteworthy in the hotels. Maybe the Poly or Wilderness Lodge, though. Grand Floridian has some interesting shops, too.
Yay this is great news!!!! I’m actually pretty surprised by it as the CDC seemed to be standing by the old rules yesterday but I’ll take all progress towards getting back to normal life! I’ll keep an eye out for your report on the earnings call but I can’t wait to get rid of masks!!!! Thanks for keeping us updated Tom!
Another potential problem is, if vaccinated people aren’t wearing masks and unvaccinated people are, this could potentially create confrontations between vaccinated people who know someone s is not vaccinated because they have a mask on. It’s a small percentage of the population that would confront t someone but the potential is there.
I think the temperature has cooled considerably on this type of confrontation. Personally, I don’t really care whether someone else wears a mask or not. It impacts me in no way as someone who is fully vaccinated.
I’d also hazard a guess that, at this point, people wearing masks are just as likely–if not more likely–to be wearing masks out of an abundance of caution or fear, than those who have are choosing not to get vaccinated. Not really my business, either way.
I think this is the game changer we’ve been waiting for, even if the effects aren’t felt fully at WDW for a little bit. I’ve been very critical of the CDC for being so slow to react, so this was a big pleasant surprise for me today. Once Disney sees how this plays out in “real world” settings, I think we get some relaxation of rules. Pretty soon, this will be the expectation for most people in everyday settings, and if Disney holds out, it will probably lead to more confrontations with cast members, as people wonder why they still have to wear masks when they don’t have it in virtually every other aspect of their lives. It’s coming soon, and I couldn’t be happier. This is a big victory for normalcy.
Good news. But the CDC seems to always be behind the curve. It’s been known for a LONG TIME that the likelihood of contracting COVID outdoors is close to the zero. And for me I simply have issues with people who refuse to get vaccinated. The pandemic will continue because of this.
“And for me I simply have issues with people who refuse to get vaccinated. The pandemic will continue because of this.”
I suspect there’s a huge overlap between those who refuse to get vaccinated and those who have been infected. In which case, they will have natural immunity.
I’m going in June with my family. I am dreading wearing a mask and if my child wasn’t on the verge of becoming too big to be wowed by Disney I don’t think I’d be going. Really hoping that the mask rule is not in place a month from now. Fingers crossed.
We can see the light at the end of the tunnel!! What a great feeling! I am really curious to see what is said during the earnings call. I am also curious to see how summertime travel to Disney will be affected; will more people delay their trip just a little bit longer for the hope of being mask free on vacation?
I think summer is going to be busy regardless, in large part because many vacation planners will expect the rules at Disney to match the rules everywhere else. They aren’t reading blogs like this one that fixate on these rules.
My expectation is that late June through mid-August are slammed, and then there’s a drop-off as pent-up demand burns out and people who would normally visit in early fall hold off for October and the 50th. Who knows, though. Everything is so unpredictable right now.
To your point, it’d be a nightmare to enforce (and probably not worth it), but it’d be nice to see them drop the mask requirement when outside, and only require a mask indoors. It’d improve the guest experience during the hottest part of the year, and would (based on what I know, which is admittedly very little) align their measures with science. Unfortunately, as a result of us humans not being able to have nice things, and be reasonable adults I have a hard time seeing them implement that nuanced of a policy (even though it’s really very straightforward).
I think exactly that is coming at Walt Disney World in the not-too-distant future.
The “nightmare to enforce” part of this is gradually going to become an unstated “we’re not going to enforce it.”