Do I have to wear a mask? Can I visit my grandparents? Questions about the CDC guidelines for vaccinated people, answered

As the U.S. vaccinates more than 2 million people a day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its guidelines for Americans who have received the full course of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“We’ve been through a lot this past year, and with more and more people getting vaccinated each day, we are starting to turn a corner,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a White House briefing Monday. “As more Americans are vaccinated, a growing body of evidence now tells us that there are some activities that fully vaccinated people can resume at low risk to themselves.”

While many of these guidelines offered some long-awaited freedoms to Americans after a year of following public health safety measures, they also raised questions.

Here's a breakdown of the CDC guidelines and what they mean for resuming daily activities:

When do I need to wear a mask and when don't I?

The CDC says fully vaccinated people don't need to wear a mask or socially distance inside a home when visiting other vaccinated people or an unvaccinated person from one household who is at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease.

This means a person who is fully vaccinated should still wear a mask and socially distance in a home with someone who is unvaccinated and over 65, or has an underlying medical condition that puts them at risk for getting severely ill with COVID-19.

In a situation where vaccinated people are gathering with unvaccinated people from multiple households at the same time, everyone should wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols. The CDC also recommends gathering outdoors or in a well-ventilated space.

Can I gather with large groups?

Regardless of vaccination status, the CDC still recommends avoiding medium- to large-sized gatherings. The agency defers to states that may have local guidance restricting the size of gatherings.

If a fully vaccinated person decides to attend an event or large gathering, the CDC says, they should continue to follow prevention measures that reduce COVID-19 spread, such as wearing a mask, social distancing and frequent hand-washing.

Am I safe to go about normal activities in public? Eating out at restaurants, getting haircuts?

While risk of coronavirus infection in public settings is lower for fully vaccinated people, the agency still recommends following existing guidance when going out in public settings, such as dining indoors at a restaurant or going to the gym.

The CDC says this is to protect unvaccinated people. Though studies show the vaccines are effective against symptomatic disease, researchers are still learning their effect on asymptomatic infection, which means vaccinated people may transmit the virus without getting sick.

“You can conceivably get infected, get no symptoms and still have virus in your nasal pharynx,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a CNN town hall in January. It’s possible that while carrying that virus, someone can transmit it to family or friends.

Can I see my grandparents?

Fully vaccinated grandparents don't have to wear a mask or physically distance if they visit fully vaccinated family or unvaccinated family not at risk for getting severely ill.

But grandparents and family should all wear masks and physically distance if there is more than one household visiting.

As per the CDC example, fully vaccinated grandparents can visit with their unvaccinated daughter and her children indoors without a mask or socially distancing. But if the neighbors decide to show up, then everyone should put on a mask and stay at least 6 feet from one another. The gathering should also be taken outdoors or to a well-ventilated area.

What about travel?

The CDC did not update guidelines on travel for vaccinated people but deferred to previous guidance that said Americans should avoid all unnecessary travel regardless of vaccination status.

If a person must travel, the CDC recommends waiting at least two weeks after getting fully vaccinated and taking the following steps to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission:

• Check travel restrictions before you go.

• Get tested with a viral test one to three days before travel. Keep a copy of your test results while traveling in case someone asks for them.

• Wear a mask, avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet from anyone who did not travel with you.

• Wash your hands often.

• Bring supplies such as masks and hand sanitizer.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

• Get tested again after traveling.

Do new guidelines apply only to people who received both shots or one?

The guidelines apply to those who are fully vaccinated. That means two weeks after getting the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires only one shot.

I was exposed to someone with COVID-19. Do I have to quarantine?

Someone who has been fully vaccinated does not need to quarantine if they've been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and do not present any symptoms. Even if they're not in quarantine, the CDC recommends monitoring for symptoms for 14 days after exposure and immediately isolate themselves if they start to present symptoms.

These recommendations do not apply to people living or working in non-health care congregate settings, such as correctional and detention facilities or group homes. If a fully vaccinated person who lives or works in one of these settings is exposed to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, they should continue to quarantine for 14 days and be tested after exposure.

“This is because residential congregate settings may face high turnover of residents, a higher risk of transmission, and challenges in maintaining recommended physical distancing,” the CDC said.

Fully vaccinated employees of high-density workplaces, such as meat and poultry processing or manufacturing plants, do not need to quarantine after an exposure if they don’t have any COVID-19-like symptoms. However, the CDC recommends testing following exposure and routine workplace screening programs to monitor for symptoms.

Is the new guidance likely to change?

The short answer is yes.

In the White House briefing Monday, Walensky said the guidelines could change as researchers learn more about COVID-19 as a disease, Americans continue to get vaccinated and "disease dynamics" change.

Updated guidance will be based on scientific evidence, she said, and balance the risk of vaccinated Americans, unvaccinated Americans and overall community transmission.

"Its important to note that this is initial guidance. The science of COVID-19 is complex, and our understanding of the virus continues to rapidly evolve," Walensky said. "The recommendations issued today are just a first step."

Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.

Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CDC guidelines for fully vaccinated people: Your questions, answered