The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will ease its recommendations regarding the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) as early as this week, CNN reported on the 3rd.
CNN said, citing people familiar with the plan, that the CDC will update current COVID-19 guidelines in schools and communities.
Quarantine recommendations for those exposed to the COVID-19 virus have been relaxed, and the current 6-foot (182 cm) social distance is not emphasized. Testing done on a regular basis in schools to monitor for the spread of the virus will also be relaxed.
Some of the mitigations are expected to come into effect as early as this week. These matters have been passed on to the education and health circles for review, but have not yet been finalized, CNN explained.
“We continue to evaluate and update our guidelines,” the CDC said.
First, according to a plan obtained by CNN, the CDC will not recommend quarantine for people who have not been vaccinated.
Currently, people who have not been vaccinated and who have encountered a person infected with COVID-19 are advised to isolate at home for 5 days.
In the future, we will not recommend quarantine, but instead will be asked to wear a mask and be tested again in at least 5 days. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should still be quarantined.
It also decided not to recommend social distancing, which requires people to be kept at least 6 feet away from others as a protective measure. However, it will help people understand in which environment they are more likely to be infected.
In addition, it will soon remove the regular coronavirus test recommendations that students exposed to COVID-19 were required to receive to come to the classroom.
This is a recommendation the CDC recommended when sending to school unvaccinated students who had been exposed to the virus but had no symptoms in December of last year, when the omicron mutation first spread.
This has raised concerns about its sustainability, as it requires a lot of manpower and money for the school.
The CDC’s change in guidelines reflects changes in sentiment about COVID-19, including many Americans not wearing masks or social distancing, as well as high levels of immunity, the source said.
Blood sample testing shows that 95% of Americans have COVID-19 or have been vaccinated and are less likely to become seriously ill if re-infected.
The CDC’s recommendations are not mandated by law, and many cities, states and schools may review but not follow, CNN explained.