The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidelines that people who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus no longer need to be quarantined if exposed to someone infected with COVID-19.
“Fully vaccinated individuals who meet the criteria no longer need to be quarantined after exposure to someone with COVID-19,” the CDC said in its updated guideline Wednesday.
“Vaccinated individuals with exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 do not need to be quarantined if they meet all of the following criteria.”
The criteria include having both injections of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines – the two injections currently available to the American public – and that at least two weeks have passed since the second dose was administered. Studies have shown that full immunity does not build up until a few weeks after the end of the vaccine regimen.
The CDC said people should also go into quarantine if more than three months have passed since they received the second injection and are exposed to the virus, as it is unclear how long the protection lasts. People should also go into quarantine if they experience coronavirus symptoms.
“This recommendation to lift quarantine for people with vaccine-based immunity is in line with the quarantine recommendations for people with natural immunity, facilitating implementation,” the CDC said.
The agency insisted that vaccinated people should continue to follow all other health guidelines, including wearing a mask and socializing when possible. Studies have shown that those vaccinated can still hold the virus in their nose and throat and pass it on to those around them.
At present, vaccinated individuals must continue to follow current guidelines to protect themselves and others, including wearing a mask, staying at least six feet away from others, avoiding crowds, avoiding poorly ventilated areas, covering coughs and sneezes, often washing hands, following the CDC’s travel guide, and following any applicable workplace or school guidelines, including guidelines regarding the use of personal protective equipment or SARS-CoV-2 testing, “the guidance said.
The new guidelines come as vaccine production offers a ray of hope for the end of the pandemic.
The rollout of the Pfizer and Moderna shots has accelerated, with potentially more injections getting the green light in the coming weeks.
However, the number of cases and deaths remains high. According to the most recent figures from the COVID Tracking Project, there were more than 95,000 new cases in the US on Wednesday, and 3,445 people died on Tuesday alone.