So many of us are longing to do the things we may have taken for granted before COVID-19 disrupted our lives. Getting together with friends at a restaurant. Celebrating milestones with loved ones. Attending a sporting event.

Now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have given fully vaccinated folks the okay to stop wearing face coverings in many settings, it seems like we may be getting closer to doing some of these things we love again.

Oregon Health Authority’s Dr. Dean Sidelinger answered questions about the new masking guidance in a media availability on Friday, May 14. The bottom line? You can help end the pandemic by getting your free COVID-19 vaccine and by continuing to practice safety precautions like wearing a face covering and keeping physically distant. You can watch a recording of the May 14 media availability below.

This article first appeared in the May 14, 2021 issue of Oregon Coronavirus Update.