Fully vaccinated people can gather without masks
By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
Pennsylvania is inching toward the 1 million mark of COVID-19 cases and 25,000 deaths since the virus arrived in the state last March.
Monday’s numbers for the state showed 950,161 total cases, representing an increase of 3,176 cases over the weekend, and an 39 additional deaths for a new total of 24,356.
The trend in the 14-day average number of hospitalized patients per day is about 4,300 lower than it was at the peak on Dec. 25. It is also below where it was at the height of the spring peak on May 3.
Statewide, there are 1,587 people hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 314 patients are in intensive care units.
To date, of the 4,179,220 doses allocated, there have been 2,981,190 — or about 71% — administered. A little more than 2 million people have been partially vaccinated, and just shy of 1 million people have been fully vaccinated in Pennsylvania.
Officials say a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine. About 30 million Americans — or only about 9% of the U.S. population — have been fully vaccinated with a federally authorized COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC.
Fully vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or social distancing, according to long-awaited guidance from federal health officials.
The recommendations also say that vaccinated people can come together in the same way with people considered at low risk for severe disease, such as in the case of vaccinated grandparents visiting healthy children and grandchildren.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made the announcement Monday.
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