Fully vaccinated people can gather indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing, according to long-awaited recommendations Monday from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For COVID-19, the recommendations also say that vaccinated people can gather indoors with people considered at low-risk for severe disease, such as in the case of vaccinated grandparents visiting healthy children and grandchildren.

The CDC said the guidance is designed to address a growing demand as more adults have been getting vaccinated and wondering if it gives them greater freedom to visit family members or travel.

A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine. About 31 million Americans — or about 9% of the population — have been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

In Pennsylvania, 2,981,190 doses have been administered through Sunday, including 2,029,732 first doses and 951,458 second doses, according to the state Department of Health.In the county, 15,478 people have received their first dose, while 21,687 people have received both doses.CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky called the guidance a “first step” toward restoring normalcy in how people gather. She said more activities would be approved for vaccinated people after caseloads and deaths decline, more people are vaccinated and as more science emerges on the ability of vaccinated people to get and spread the virus.The CDC is continuing to recommend that fully vaccinated people still wear well-fitted masks, avoid large gatherings and physically distance themselves from others when in public. The CDC also advised vaccinated people to get tested if they develop symptoms that could be related to COVID-19.The State Board of Medicine on Monday encouraged Pennsylvanians to stay informed and get vaccinated against COVID-19 when they are eligible.The board said it supports the state's efforts to procure vaccine doses and ensure the optimal distribution and administration of vaccine, including prioritization guidance.

The state health department Monday reported 5,965 new cases from Saturday, Sunday and Monday, bringing the statewide total to 950,161 since the beginning of the pandemic. There were 39 new deaths, raising the total to 24,356.In the county, 20 new cases raised the total to 9,041, and one new death raised the total to 372.Butler Memorial Hospital has eight COVID-19 patients, including seven with confirmed cases and one person in the intensive care unit.<i>The Associated Press contributed to this story.</i>