The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will no longer recommend quarantines or testing programs in schools or daycare centers for people exposed to COVID-19, the agency said in its updated guidance on Thursday.
The agency also said it was no longer recommending that unvaccinated people quarantine after exposure, since about 95% of the US population has been vaccinated, has already had covid-19, or both.
“This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but it also helps us move toward a point where Covid-19 is no longer seriously disrupting our daily lives,” CDC scientist Greta Massetti said in a statement.
The CDC said it had updated its recommendations that people exposed to COVID-19 should wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on the fifth day after exposure, regardless of vaccination status.
“Both prior infection and vaccination confer some protection against severe disease, so it makes sense not to differentiate our guidance or recommendations based on current vaccination status,” Dr. Massetti told reporters.
CDC school guidance also removed recommendations to keep children in cohorts to reduce the likelihood of exposure to COVID-19.
While the agency removed its recommendations to conduct stay-at-home testing in schools, it said schools could consider implementing COVID-19 screening for high-risk activities like close-contact sports or at key times of the year. .
