New guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says fully vaccinated people no longer have to wear a mask - indoors or outdoors - with some exceptions.

Following the announcement, Hidalgo County’s top health authority had a message for the community.

"I think it's time. I think it makes a lot of sense if you've been vaccinated to act like you've been vaccinated," Hidalgo County Health authority Dr. Ivan Melendez said. “"The spirit of it is if everyone is fully vaccinated, whether you're indoors or out, then you can be without the mask."

The guidelines say you don't need to wear your mask in most crowded spaces, but you are still recommended to keep it on inside hospitals and on public transportation like buses or airplanes. 

Some members of the public said they aren't ready to take the step of going maskless just yet.

"I think its double protection and more security. I feel like it's safer for me and everyone around me," Bartolo Guijaro said.  

Dr. Melendez said it's normal for fully vaccinated people to feel anxious after the announcement from the CDC. 

"It is completely reasonable to at first be greatly hesitant to put on a mask and now to be hesitant to take it off,” Dr. Melendez said. “I strongly recommend that if you feel wearing a mask is going to be helpful for you, for whatever reason, keep wearing it." 

Melendez said fully vaccinated people should feel safe to take off their masks because the science backs up the latest guidance. 

For other vaccinated people, ditching their mask will just depend on the situation. 

"For everyone's safety I do think we should still wear our mask,” Roxana Flores said. "If you do hang out with people that are vaccinated in an area that's contained, I would not wear my mask at that point.”

As for privately-owned businesses - it's up to each business owner to decide if they'll still require masks.