Fauci Attempts to Clarify New Guidelines: CDC 'Did Not Explicitly Say Unvaccinated Should Abandon Masks'

Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday that Americans should not take liberties with new face mask guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this month, emphasizing that the unvaccinated should continue to wear masks.

Speaking at an Axios virtual event, Fauci said that people are misinterpreting the CDC's guidance allowing vaccinated people to go mask-free in most situations as an overall end to mask mandates.

"It did not explicitly say that unvaccinated people should abandon their masks," he told Axios' Mike Allen.