RICHMOND, Va. -- Shoppers in Carytown said they were excited to hear the CDC had updated its mask guidanceThursday and believed vaccination was the way back to normalcy.
Troy Muhammad said he was looking forward to getting his shot, so he could finally take the mask off.
"I keep my mask on. I’m not vaccinated. I don’t know any of these people," said Muhammad.
But added that he was tired of wearing it.
"I mean if we want to all go back to a normal lifestyle for everybody to feel safe, we’ve got to reach some kind of medium point. And maybe vaccinations is the medium point," Muhammad said.
That statement became even more apparent Thursday, as the CDC announced it's now safe for fully vaccinated individuals to take off their masks in most settings, even indoors.
Muhammad said he hoped that would prompt Governor Northam to update guidelines in the Commonwealth.
"I think he should follow the guidance of the CDC. I think he should follow the guidance of the experts," said Muhammad. "Those of us who are vaccinated, we should be able to go on and live our lives. Those who are not, then they should still mask up until they decide to get vaccinated."
Catherine Long, Spokesperson for the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts said they were still waiting for guidance from the Governor and Virginia Department of Health.
"So, CDC said this nationally, but they do defer to what the state and the locality day their mask guidelines are."
A statement from Governor Northam’s Office Thursday indicated a change was on the way. That statement read:
Virginia will continue to follow CDC guidelines, as we have throughout this pandemic. We are reviewing this guidance and expect to have more updates soon. Ultimately this reinforces the importance of getting vaccinated. Vaccines are our pathway out of this pandemic, and they are how we can all get back to doing what we love. With the expansion of eligibility to everyone 12 and older, more Virginians can get vaccinated than ever before. If you haven't already, now is the time to get your shot.
