CDC’s new mask guidance for vaccinated people

THE BIG STORY

Vaccinated people don't need to wear masks in small outdoor groups under new CDC guidance, but should still wear them in crowds.

The CDC unveiled the new guidelines for people at least two weeks after their last vaccine shot. With about 30% of Americans now fully vaccinated, the masking guidelines had been expected for some time and mark a small step on the path to the country emerging from pandemic conditions.

Since you can't tell who has been vaccinated or not, the CDC recommends fully vaccinated people still wear masks at outdoor performances, when getting their hair cut, visiting malls or museums, and going to the theater, to church, or to sing with a choir.

The new guidelines rely on individual judgment of risks, allowing fully vaccinated people to go without masks:

Indoors, with other fully vaccinated people, or with unvaccinated people from one other household, unless someone in that household is at high risk from COVID-19
Outdoors, exercising alone and in small gatherings with vaccinated and unvaccinated people
Dining at outdoor restaurants with people from multiple households

CDC

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

The Biden administration will limit ICE arrests at courthouses in hopes of easing fears of immigrants called to testify.

On Tuesday, the Biden administration issued a policy that sharply limits the immigrants whom ICE officers can arrest at courthouses after years of criticism of the practice. The policy also applies to US Customs and Border Protection officials. BuzzFeed News' Hamed Aleaziz was the first to report the change.

For years during the Trump administration, reports of arrests in courthouses across the country were persistent and spurred local leaders to speak out, arguing that arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement would dissuade witnesses from appearing at court proceedings.

The White House will also nominate Houston-area sheriff Ed Gonzalez to run ICE. Gonzalez gained a national profile as the leader of one of the largest sheriff's departments in the country, particularly during the response to Hurricane Harvey. In recent years, he has also used his position to push back against Trump's immigration policies.

SNAPSHOTS

Police shot Andrew Brown in the back of the head, an independent autopsy found. Brown was shot and killed in his car on April 21 as deputies attempted to execute a search warrant. Several deputies are now on administrative leave.

The man photographed with his foot on Nancy Pelosi's desk during the Capitol Riots will be released from jail. Richard Barnett was ordered to remain in jail, but a judge ruled that his case was too similar to those of other defendants who were allowed to go home.

Dax Shepard explained how he discussed his replace with his young daughters. "We explained, 'Well, daddy was on these pills for his surgery and then daddy was a bad boy and he started getting his own pills.' We tell them the whole thing," Shepard said to Chelsea Clinton on the In Fact podcast.

EXTREMELY RELATABLE

Women on TikTok are creating communities to share their online dating horror stories.

For these women, there is something incredibly affirming about knowing that other people have been through the same process they have in their pandemic dating adventures. Whether it's getting ghosted, dealing with way-too-forward men, or figuring out how to make the first move, there's a TikTok about it.

TikTok users like Alaine Limjoco have found community by sharing and commiserating over their experiences, discussing dating men in an open, lighthearted way. Limjoco (aka @thefashionbum), a blogger and influencer, began sharing stories from her dating life on TikTok after posting a "get ready with me" video she made before a date.

Soon, Limjoco's For You page was filled with dating app content, and she loved it. These videos ranged from "storytimes," where a user will share dating exploits like they would with a close friend on FaceTime, to survey videos, where someone will send out a Google Form after a date to get feedback on what worked and what didn't.

"It was good to see other people in the same boat as me — you just don't feel as alone," Limjoco told BuzzFeed News.

AT LEAST HE CAN LAUGH ABOUT IT

Remember the extremely memeable photo of Mark Zuckerberg caked in sunscreen?

He may have avoided a sunburn, but he still got roasted for wearing this much sunscreen last year.

In an Instagram Live chat with Instagram head Adam Mosseri, Zuckerberg said he likes to wear plenty of sunblock to keep his skin healthy while swimming (smart!). But he revealed another reason for the extraordinary quantity on his face.

He saw that he was being followed by a photographer as he was surfing, so he thought he could disguise himself with extra sunscreen. Zuckerberg admitted his ploy didn't work. "The delta between how cool you think you look and the worst photo a paparazzi can take is pretty funny," he said.

But the Facebook founder has no hard feelings. "If someone wants to post a sunscreen meme, it's cool. I'm happy to give the internet some laughs," he said.

Aohan / MEGA

However much energy you're able to muster this week is the right amount. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Brandon (filling in for Elamin this week)

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