Dr. Fauci says Americans are 'misinterpreting' new mask guidelines

Dr. Fauci gave an interview to Axios where he said that he believes Americans are "misinterpreting" the CDC's new mask recommendations. "I think people are misinterpreting, thinking that this is a removal of a mask mandate for everyone. It’s not," Fauci said. Dr. Fauci noted that the new guidelines were meant to make vaccinated people feel safe and not undercut mask-wearing.

In the release, the CDC director Rochelle Walensky said that the science around masks has evolved, and vaccinated people are not at risk of inadvertently spreading the virus to unvaccinated people. Previously, Dr. Fauci and others have said that even when vaccinated, a person could contract COVID-19 and spread it but not show symptoms themselves.

"It’s not their fault. People either read them quickly, or listen and hear half of it," Fauci told Axios. "They are feeling that we’re saying: ‘You don’t need the mask anymore.’ That’s not what the CDC said." Dr. Fauci continued, "They said: If you are vaccinated, you can feel safe — that you will not get infected either outdoors or indoors. It did not explicitly say that unvaccinated people should abandon their masks."

The CDC unveiled the new mask guidelines last week and faced both praise and backlash. President Biden said it was a significant turning point in the nation's battle against COVID-19 while National Nurses United condemned the CDC.

Liberal celebrities and politicians have expressed that they will still wear their masks in order not to be confused as conservative. NBC's Rachel Maddow says she will need to "rewire" herself in order to be able to interact with other people. It was reported Wednesday that Dr. Fauci was seen still wearing a mask despite being vaccinated and the new CDC guidelines.