The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has finally released the data that was behind its recent backtrack on mask recommendations for vaccinated Americans to wear masks in indoors places in COVID-19 hot spots.
In a report published on Friday, the federal health agency detailed a COVID-19 outbreak earlier this month in Barnstable County, Massachusetts linked to the spread of the Indian 'Delta' variant.
Researchers found nearly three-quarters of the infections occurred in people who were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with either of three shots approved in the U.S.
What's more, tests showed that immunized people carried just the same viral levels in their noses and throats as unvaccinated people did.
However, there were just four hospitalizations and no fatalities, showing that the vaccines are very effective against severe disease and deaths.
A new CDC report detailed 469 cases of COVID-19 linked to an outbreak in Provincetown, Massachusetts between July 3 and July 17, of which 74% were in fully vaccinated people
For the report, the team looked at COVID-19 cases linked to summer events and large gatherings in Provincetown between July 3 and July 17.
Thousands of residents and tourists flocked to the summer town for Independence Day celebrations as well as family vacations, crowding bars, restaurants, rental homes and more.
On July 10, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health began receiving reports of an increased number of cases linked to the county.
The 14-day rolling average COVID-19 cases in the country rose from zero cases per 100,000 persons on July 3 to 177 cases per
