With CDC relaxing policies for vaccinated people, metro counties say don’t ditch the mask just yet

ATLANTA — Even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has loosened mask demands for those fully vaccinated, it doesn’t mean your local government is changing their policy.

Channel 2′s Dave Huddleston reached out to several municipalities Friday, including Fulton County, who said there is no change in their policy right now. Masks are still required for at least a couple more months.

It’s still masks on for Elizabeth Ann Weeks and her sons.

“My kids are probably excited of the prospect of not having to wear a mask at school,” the DeKalb County mother said.

Weeks said she likes that the number of COVID-19 infections are going down, and the CDC says fully vaccinated people can take their masks off in most indoor and outdoor places. But she’s still cautious.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Wreckage of cargo ship that capsized off St. Simons Island in 2019 bursts into flames
• Person hit by vehicle, killed in Cobb County, police say
• Police searching for missing toddler, 3-month-old believed to be with ‘armed and dangerous’ man

“There’s a subgroup of people who are not going to get vaccinated,” Weeks said.

Fulton County chairman Robb Pitts told Huddleston that as of now, there will be no changes for at least a couple more months.

“When the general public comes in, they will have to wear a mask,” Pitts said.

He told Huddleston that the CDC’s announcement is good news, but he wants to see more people get the shot before county visitors and workers can unmask.

“Out of an abundance of caution since we can’t police all of our employees,” Pitts said.

Fulton County officials said as of May 13, more than 317,000 Fulton County residents have been fully vaccinated. That’s about 29% of the county’s 1.1 million residents.

At least 400,000 have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine. James Hall said he’s fully vaccinated but plans to leave on his mask.

“I think those masks should stay on until we get some concrete evidence of how this thing is going,” Hall said.

Huddleston also contacted Cherokee County. They said they never had a mask mandate, so the new guidelines don’t apply to them.

Henry County said for the time being, all visitors and staff will continue to be required to wear a mask.

Atlantans react to CDC loosening mask requirement for fully vaccinated people The CDC now says fully vaccinated people don't need to wear masks, but some Atlantans still have questions.

Cox Media Group