By Tim Mastro

DOVER — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance Monday, easing restrictions for those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Fully vaccinated individuals can gather with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing, according to the CDC.

The recommendations also say vaccinated people can come together in the same way — in a single household — with people considered at low-risk for severe disease. An example would be fully vaccinated grandparents visiting healthy children and grandchildren.

Officials say a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine

The CDC is continuing to recommend fully vaccinated people still wear well-fitted masks, avoid large gatherings, and physically distance themselves from others when out in public. The CDC also advised vaccinated people to get tested if they develop symptoms that could be related to COVID-19.

“We are aware of the updated guidance that was released today by the CDC and are currently reviewing it to determine how to incorporate it into our current guidance for Delaware residents,” Delaware Division of Public Health spokesman Jim Lee told the Delaware State News via email on Monday. “We will share updated information as soon as it is available.”

The CDC guidance did not speak to people who may have gained some level of immunity from being infected, and recovering from, COVID-19.

The new guidance is designed to address a growing demand, as more adults have been getting vaccinated and wondering if it gives them greater freedom to visit family members, travel, or do other things like they did before the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world last year.

“With more and more people vaccinated each day, we are starting to turn a corner,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

During a press briefing Monday, she called the guidance a “first step” toward restoring normalcy in how people come together. She said more activities would be allowed for vaccinated individuals once caseloads and deaths decline, more Americans are vaccinated, and as more science emerges on the ability of those who have been vaccinated to get and spread the virus.

Delaware had administered 272,103 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of Sunday at 11:59 p.m. The state has received 282,290 doses directly, plus an additional 57,115 doses have been delivered through the Federal Pharmacy Program, for a combined total of 339,405.

More than 4,500 Delawareans were vaccinated with the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine this past weekend at events in Delaware City and Seaford — approximately 1,800 at Seaford High School and approximately 2,700 at Delaware City, according to the DPH. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is one dose, compared to Moderna and Pfizer, which require two doses. Delaware received its first 8,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine last week.

Delaware is currently in Phase 1B of its vaccine distribution, focusing on individuals 65 years old and older. Curative Inc. is running vaccinations for Phase 1B seniors at Delaware Technical Community College campuses in Dover, Wilmington and Georgetown this week as the DPH expects more than 4,000 vaccinations over the course of the week at these clinics. Another partner, Vault Health, is holding second-dose events this week for individuals who received their first dose through Vault.

The DPH is also planning to vaccinate up to 8,000 teachers, school staff and child care providers, who are also part of Phase 1B, this upcoming weekend at Dover International Speedway. An additional appointment-only vaccination event through the Delaware Department of Education is scheduled for Friday in New Castle County.

Associated Press reporter Mike Stobbe contributed to this story.

Staff writer Tim Mastro can be reached at tmastro@newszap.com.

Follow @TimMastroDSN on Twitter.