Jill Biden has said she feels "naked" without a face mask on.

The First Lady, 69, made the comment in West Virginia on Thursday, May 13, after new guidance was released by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), allowing fully vaccinated people to stop wearing masks.

The White House's official Twitter account wrote: "Big news from the CDC: If you're fully vaccinated, you do not need to wear a mask - indoors or outdoors, in most settings.

"We've gotten this far. Whether you choose to get vaccinated or wear a mask, please protect yourself until we get to the finish line."

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When the First Lady arrived in West Virginia, she was met by actress Jennifer Garner, who is from the area.

She then visited Charleston high school with Senator Joe Manchin to promote the importance of vaccination to pupils.

Sharing photographs of the visit, Senator Joe Manchin wrote: "It is an honor to have @FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden visit #WV to witness firsthand the vaccination efforts at @capitalhighwv & to thank @WVNationalGuard members for their tireless service during the COVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented vaccine rollout is saving lives. #GetVaccinated"

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The First Lady was wearing a white dress and a pink blazer, and she had been seen earlier that day wearing a matching pink face mask, Indy100 reports.

"We feel naked," the First Lady said of not wearing face masks, before adding: "I didn't mean it that way."

She then explained that she'd bought a mask that matched her outfit, having only learned about the CDC's new rule during the flight to West Virginia.

Dr. Walensky, the Director of the CDC, revealed the new guidance at a White House briefing, saying that the large numbers of vaccinated people and research into the vaccine's effectiveness is what's led to the new rule.

"We have all longed for this moment when we can get back to some sense of normalcy," Dr. Walensky said. "Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities large or small without wearing a mask or physically distancing."

Indy100 reports that people still have to wear masks inside or if they are in a crowded setting.

Featured image credit: Alamy / American Photo Archive

Jill Biden says she feels 'naked' without mask as CDC drops face covering rule