The CDC recently announced that fully vaccinated individuals don’t have to wear masks inside or outside. This announcement is a great indication that we’re getting closer to going back to normal. However, I do think that timing and lack of holding accountability of the updated rules may cause trouble.

Many fully vaccinated people are continuing to wear their masks when out in public for personal reasons and for the feeling of added safety. However, the CDC announcement may result in people lying about their vaccination status.

Thankfully many public places such as stores and restaurants can uphold their own rules about mask wearing in their locations. Some, but not many, major companies have decided to no longer require customers to wear masks indoors if they are fully vaccinated. Trader Joe’s, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Publix, and Starbucks are among companies who have changed their mask policy to allow for vaccinated customers and employees to be maskless.

The main issue with these changes is that these public places don’t require any proof of vaccination for customers or employees. This will definitely lead to people who are not vaccinated going without masks. Seeing as throughout the pandemic there have been many instances of people refusing to wear masks in public places, it’s likely that those same people would lie about being vaccinated.

We’re already starting to see people begin to lie and fabricate vaccine cards in order to not have to wear their masks. In California a bar owner was arrested for selling fake vaccine cards for $20 each. This was not the first instance of someone trying to sell fake vaccine cards as many people have tried to do so via the Internet.

Regardless of the fact that people are going to try to lie to get out of the simple task of wearing a mask, I do believe that part of the blame lies upon the CDC and our government. I think announcing that vaccinated people don’t have to wear masks at this stage was entirely too early and too risky. From the very beginning of the pandemic many Americans showed just how selfish and uncaring they could be toward other people. Having an honor system to ensure that only vaccinated people are the ones without masks is irresponsible. Time will tell how much these updates affect the public, until then we can hope most people will do the right thing.