The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidelines that people who have been fully vaccinated for coronavirus should no longer be quarantined if they are exposed to someone who is infected with COVID-19.
“Fully vaccinated people who meet the criteria will no longer be required to be quarantined after exposure to someone with COVID-19,” the CDC said in an updated guide Wednesday.
“Persons vaccinated with exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria.”
The criteria include having both photos of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines – the two photos that are currently available to the US public – and which have been at least two weeks since the second dose. Studies have shown that complete immunity does not build up until a few weeks after the end of the vaccination regimen.
The CDC said people should also be quarantined if more than three months have passed since they received the second blow and are exposed to the virus, as it is not clear how long the protection will last. People should also be quarantined if they have symptoms of coronavirus.
“This quarantine waiver recommendation for people with vaccine-derived immunity aligns with quarantine recommendations for those with natural immunity, which facilitates implementation,” the CDC said.
The agency argued that vaccinated people should continue to follow all other health guidelines, including wearing a mask and social distancing when possible. Studies have shown that those who were inoculated could still hold the virus in their noses and throats and pass it on to others.
“At this time, vaccinated people should continue to follow current guidelines to protect themselves and others, including wearing a mask, staying at least 6 meters away from others, avoiding congestion, avoiding poorly ventilated areas, covering coughs. and sneezing, washing hands frequently following CDC travel guidance and any guidance applicable at work or school, including guidance on the use of personal protective equipment or SARS-CoV-2 testing, “reads guide.
The new guidance comes as vaccine production offers a glimmer of hope for the end of the pandemic.
The launch of Pfizer and Moderna photos has increased, possibly with more injections getting the green light in the coming weeks.
However, cases and deaths remain high. There were more than 95,000 new cases in the United States on Wednesday and 3,445 people died alone on Tuesday, according to the latest figures from the COVID follow-up project.