by Julia Marnin
After more than two years of living with coronavirus restrictions in the U.S., the nation’s public health agency is relaxing its rules.
There’s no longer a need for quarantining upon COVID-19 exposure and certain infection prevention methods in schools, among other loosened recommendations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in updated guidance on Thursday, Aug. 11. Additionally, the agency is emphasizing that people understand their own personal risk regarding the virus.
“This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives,” CDC epidemiologist Dr. Greta Massetti said in a statement.
Here’s what those in the U.S. need to know about the new CDC guidelines.
Instead of quarantining after exposure, CDC recommends this
Prior to Aug. 11, the CDC recommended those unvaccinated and those more than six months out from their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to quarantine for five days after a known exposure to the virus.
Now, the agency no longer recommends anyone do so, regardless of vaccination status, and instead says to wear a high-quality mask for 10 days. On day five following an exposure, the CDC says to take a COVID-19 test.
Still, the CDC advises staying up to date on vaccinations as roughly 67% of the U.S. is considered fully vaccinated and 48% have gotten their first booster dose as of Aug. 12, according to agency data.
Updated COVID prevention methods in schools
The CDC’s new guidance has done away with the “test to stay” guidance, which K-12 schools followed to test unvaccinated students or those not considered up to date on the shots.
“Since quarantine is no longer recommended for people who are exposed to COVID-19 except in certain high-risk congregate settings, Test to Stay (TTS) is no longer needed,” the agency said as of Aug. 11.
Additionally, the agency no longer recommends routine screening testing for those without virus symptoms or those who haven’t had a known exposure. However, it advises schools to consider screening testing if they are in a region where there are high COVID-19 levels.
About 40% of the country lives in a location where COVID-19 community levels are considered high, the agency says as of Aug. 12. Masks are advised in high-level regions.
In another update for schools, the CDC says it no longer recommends cohorting. This is a method in which students and staff would be divided into groups that would mostly interact with each other in an effort to prevent virus transmission.
Ultimately, the CDC advises students and staff to stay at home when sick and to wear a mask after a positive COVID-19 test or when experiencing virus symptoms.
If you test positive
For those who test positive for COVID-19, the CDC still recommends isolating for at least five days at home and limiting contact with others. If around others, wearing a high-quality mask is advised.
“You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days,” the agency said in a statement.
“If after 5 days you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication, and your symptoms are improving, or you never had symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5.”
However, the CDC says those with moderate or severe symptoms and immunocompromised individuals need to isolate for 10 days.
If symptoms get worse after ending isolation, the agency says to restart the isolation period.
Continued monitoring of COVID variants ‘essential’
The CDC’s new guidance comes as more than 2,500 U.S. counties, districts and territories live where COVID-19 levels are considered medium and high as of Aug. 11, with the omicron BA.5 subvariant continuing to dominate cases, according to the agency.
“Rapid identification of emergent variants necessitating a shift in prevention strategy makes continued detection, monitoring, and characterization of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants essential.”
During the past 28 days, nearly 3.5 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University.
Although data shows COVID-19 has continued to spread in recent weeks, Massetti said “we’re in a stronger place today as a nation, with more tools—like vaccination, boosters, and treatments—to protect ourselves, and our communities, from severe illness from COVID-19.”
The CDC’s guidance acknowledged that there are “high levels of vaccine- and infection-induced immunity” in the country, and this has reduced risks for COVID-19 infections leading to severe illness, hospitalization and deaths.
---------------------------------------------------
Mark Smith
Advocate
California Builders Alliance
5370 Elvas Avenue ǀ Sacramento, CA 95819
Cell: 916.335.5072
Email: mark.smith@calbuilders.org
Email: mark@smithpolicygroup.com