It's the news Americans have been waiting to hear for more than a year.
Fully vaccinated people are cleared to travel domestically, according to updated guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC's official definition of "fully vaccinated" is two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose vaccine series such as those made by Pfizer and Moderna, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen formula.
Based on the growing body of research and evidence into the effectiveness of the new vaccines, the CDC announced that people no longer need to get tested or self-quarantine if they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 in the past three months. Fully vaccinated people are also cleared to gather without masks if they're with small groups of unvaccinated people.
The news is obviously cause for jubilation, but caveats remain.
People who have only completed one dose of a two-dose series are still advised to follow no-travel recommendations until two weeks after their second dose.
Right now, the green light is only for domestic travel.
"International travel poses additional risks and even fully vaccinated travelers are at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading new Covid-19 variants," according to the revised CDC guidance on overseas travel.
Additionally, the CDC has not yet lifted the temporary no-sail order that is barring the major cruise lines from U.S. ports.
Fully vaccinated people must also still have a Covid-19 test on hand when they fly into the United States.
All people, no matter their vaccination status, are still advised to wear masks during travel, maintain social distancing, and wash their hands regularly—all as usual.
Nearly 40% of Americans have now received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and some 3 million doses a day are being administered.
