PROVIDENCE, R.I (WBZ NewsRadio) — Starting on Tuesday, residents in Rhode Island who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 are no longer required to wear a mask indoors or outdoors.
The term "fully vaccinated" refers to the period two weeks after a person gets their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, or their first shot of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine.
Rhode Island is aligning with federal guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced earlier this month -- which said that fully vaccinated Americans do not need to wear masks in most situations.
Read More: Gov. Baker Announces All Remaining COVID Restrictions To Be Lifted May 29
Residents will still be required to wear masks in places like hospitals and medical practices, and in schools, where many students have not yet been vaccinated.
The change comes as Rhode Island also prepares to shift it's other Covid-19 restrictions on Friday -- including expanded capacity limits for most businesses, and eased restrictions on indoor and outdoor social gatherings.
Massachusetts is preparing to make similar steps towards reopening later this month, when all Covid-19 restrictions and the statewide mask mandate will be lifted on May 29, 2021.
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Written by Rachel Armany
(Photo: Getty Images)