Dr. Scott Gottlieb said Wednesday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needs to more nimbly update its coronavirus guidelines as the pandemic situation improves.
A day earlier, the U.S. public health agency issued new, relaxed guidance on the need for fully vaccinated people to wear masks outdoors.
“The guidance that CDC put out, I think, is a step in the right direction, but it’s relatively confusing,” Gottlieb, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner, said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “It’s not very clear in terms of what they’re prescribing. I think we need simpler rules if we’re going to be prescribing something over society.”
People who have been fully vaccinated — considered two weeks after their final dose — can safely exercise and go to small gatherings outdoors without wearing a face mask, according to the new CDC guidance. However, the agency recommends fully vaccinated people keep wearing masks if they attend an outdoor event that’s crowded, such as a parade, a sports game or concert.
The CDC also said it’s safe for unvaccinated Americans to forgo wearing a mask while attending a small outdoor gathering with friends and family if those other attendees are fully vaccinated.
