The Office of the Attending Physician, Brian Monahan, has sent new guidance that says masks are no longer needed on the House floor for those who are fully vaccinated.
The decrease of community transmission and the increase in the rate of vaccine led to this announcement, a senior Democratic aide tells CNN, with the Capitol Hill complex now at 85% vaccination rate.
Here's the guidance from the Office of the Attending Physician:
"The guideline document reflects that fully vaccinated individuals may discontinue mask wear and 6-foot social distance separations in most situations consistent with the CDC revision regarding fully vaccinated individuals of May 13, 2021."
11:41 a.m. ET, June 11, 2021
Chicago is officially reopened, mayor says
From CNN's Carma Hassan
Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks in Chicago on June 11. WLS
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was met with cheers when she announced the city is fully reopened.
The city moved into Phase 5 of its reopening plan, which allows businesses to operate without Covid-19 guidelines.
“Meaning capacity limits gone, mask mandates not mandatory, and social distancing requirements lifted,” Lightfoot said.
Masks remain required in some places, per federal guidelines, the mayor said, including on public transportation and in health care facilities, schools, shelters and correctional facilities.
Those who are not vaccinated should still wear masks, the mayor said.
“This time last year, our city was in a very different place,” Lightfoot said. “And it's been 15 months since Covid first came to our city, wreaked havoc on nearly every aspect of our lives, and forced us to grapple with feelings of fear, loss, grief, unlike anything we'd ever experienced before in our lifetime.”
The mayor acknowledged how much people have endured, telling them “now it's time for you to get up, get out of the house this summer, and — fully and safely — and enjoy the events of the best city on the planet, our beloved city of Chicago.”
This morning, Lightfoot told CNN’s John Berman on New Day that the "economy is poised to come roaring back" with the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in the city.
Her announcement comes as the state moves into its final phase of the Restore Illinois plan. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state will eliminate all capacity limits and align mask requirements with those of the CDC’s guidelines today.
10:16 a.m. ET, June 11, 2021
Brazil approves Pfizer/BioNTech as first vaccine for minors over 12
From journalist Fernanda Wenzel
A health worker holds a tray with vials of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in São Paulo, Brazil, on May 6. Andre Penner/AP
Brazil's first vaccine for minors over the age of 12 was approved by the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) on Thursday.
Pfizer/BioNTech was authorized after the evaluation of studies developed outside Brazil, according to ANVISA, and was the only vaccine approved for use by people under 18 years old.
Brazil has received 2.3 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine this week, which will be distributed to all states in the next few days. In total, the pharmaceutical company has delivered 5.9 million doses to Brazil, and the contract with the government predicts a total of 200 million doses by the end of the year.
9:02 a.m. ET, June 11, 2021
Seattle has fully vaccinated 70% of residents 12 and older, mayor says
From CNN’s Jennifer Henderson, Andy Rose and Melissa Alonso
A person receives the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in Seattle on January 24. Grant Hindsley/AFP/Getty Images
Seattle, Washington, has fully vaccinated 70% of residents ages 12 and older, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced Wednesday.
Seventy-eight percent of Seattle residents 12 years old and older have started the vaccination process but are not yet fully vaccinated. Seattle has administered more than 249,000 vaccines to more than 131,000 people, according to a news release.
Covid-19 rates and deaths in Seattle and King County are falling, the release stated. In King County, an estimated 95% of all new Covid-19 cases are in people who have not started vaccinations, it added.
