CDC no longer requires unvaccinated to quarantine after being exposed to COVID
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an update to its COVID-19 guidance, which has eased the recommendations for individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 and remain unvaccinated. Previously, the CDC advised that those who were unvaccinated or hadn't received their booster shots should quarantine for five days after exposure and end the quarantine if no symptoms developed.
The new guidance no longer suggests that unvaccinated individuals quarantine after exposure. Instead, it recommends that they wear a mask for ten days and get tested five days after exposure.
This guidance is consistent with the previous recommendation for vaccinated and boosted individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19, thus simplifying the CDC's quarantine recommendation. The CDC's latest guidelines state that Americans who are exposed to the virus, regardless of vaccination status, no longer need to stay at home.
Dr. Greta Massetti, the Chief of the Field Epidemiology and Prevention Branch at the CDC and one of the authors of the updated guidance emphasized that Americans are now in a stronger position as a nation, with more tools, such as vaccination, boosters, and treatments, to protect themselves and their communities from severe COVID-19 illnesses.
She said, "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." The updated guidelines come amid concerns over the spread of new omicron subvariants, and COVID-19 hospitalizations are expected to increase in the coming days.
The CDC's latest update comes as the Biden administration strives to encourage more Americans to get vaccinated and to keep people safe. According to recent data from the CDC, more than 70% of the US population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
As of now, vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, reduce severe illness and hospitalization rates, and minimize the possibility of new variants developing. While the CDC's updated guidance eases quarantine recommendations for unvaccinated individuals, the CDC continues to encourage all Americans to get vaccinated and boosted to stay safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19.