The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidelines that people who have been fully vaccinated for the coronavirus no longer need to quarantine if they are exposed to someone infected with COVID-19.
“People who are fully vaccinated and who meet the criteria no longer need to remain in quarantine after exposure to someone with COVID-19,” the CDC said Wednesday in the updated guidance.
“Vaccinated individuals with exposure to someone with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 need not be quarantined if they meet all of the following criteria.”
The criteria include that both Pfizer or Moderna vaccines were fired – the two shots currently available to the US public – and that at least two weeks have elapsed since the administration of the second dose. Studies have shown that full immunity is only built up a few weeks after completion of the vaccination system.
The CDC said that people should also be quarantined if more than three months have passed since they received the second shot and they are exposed to the virus, as it is unclear how long the protection will last. People should also be quarantined if they experience symptoms of coronavirus.
“This recommendation to waive quarantine for people with vaccine-acquired immunity is in line with quarantine recommendations for people with natural immunity, which facilitates implementation,” the CDC said.
The agency maintained that vaccines should continue to follow all other health guidelines, including wearing a mask and the possible social distance. Studies have shown that those who are vaccinated can still carry the virus in their noses and throats and transmit it to people around them.
“At the moment, vaccinators must continue to follow current guidelines to protect themselves and others, including wearing a mask, staying away from others at least 6 meters away, avoiding crowds, poorly ventilated areas, covering coughs and sneezing, hands “was regularly to follow the CDC travel guidelines, and to follow any appropriate workplace or school guidance, including guidance regarding the use of personal protective equipment or SARS-CoV-2 testing,” the guidance said.
The new guideline comes because vaccine production offers some hope for the end of the pandemic.
The rollout of the Pfizer and Moderna shots has increased, with possibly more injections in the coming weeks.
However, cases and deaths remain high. There were more than 95,000 new cases in the U.S. on Wednesday, and 3,445 people died on Tuesday alone, according to the latest figures from the COVID Tracking Project.