Biden touts new mask guidance

President Biden on Tuesday used new guidance from federal health officials about outdoor mask wearing to urge young people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“The bottom line is clear: If you’re vaccinated, you can do more things, more safely, both outdoors as well as indoors. So for those who haven’t gotten the vaccination yet — especially if you’re younger or thinking you don’t need it — this is another great reason to go get vaccinated,” Biden said in remarks outside the White House.

Biden’s comments came just after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance to suggest it was safe for fully vaccinated people to be unmasked outdoors in small groups.

Biden approached microphones on the North Lawn with a mask on before removing it to speak. 

Asked why he did so, Biden indicated he wanted to make a point about wearing a mask outdoors and that he would keep the mask off until reentering the White House.

Biden received his COVID-19 vaccine months ago.