Headline RoundupAugust 11th, 2022

CDC Relaxes COVID-19 Safety Guidelines

Summary from the AllSides News Team

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new COVID-19 guidance with loosened recommendations for quarantines and social distancing.

Among other things, the CDC no longer advises staying at least 6 feet away from other people to reduce the risk of exposure, a tip that had been encouraged widely since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. The new guidelines de-emphasize regular COVID-19 testing in most settings, such as schools, and also say that contact tracing should be limited to hospitals and other high-risk group-living situations. The distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans was also removed, meaning CDC guidance is now the same for everyone.

Some recommendations, such as indoor masking in high-risk areas and a five-day quarantine after a positive test, remained the same. Roughly 67% of Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The news was highlighted prominently by sources across the political spectrum, especially left- and center-rated ones. Reports from all sides framed the move as a major shift in federal COVID-19 guidance, and highlighted how most Americans are either fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have built up some natural immunity to it. 

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