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.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
No more quarantines or test-to-stay in schools, CDC reveals sweeping changes to COVID-19 guidanceThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Americans no longer need to quarantine if exposed to COVID-19, a sweeping announcement that rolls back several of the agency's pandemic recommendations.
In new "streamlined" guidance released Thursday, health officials removed the distinction between vaccinated Americans and those who are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, meaning the CDC's guidance is now the same for everyone.
The agency says that individuals exposed to someone with COVID-19 no longer need to quarantine and should instead wear a high-quality face mask for 10 days...
From the Left
CDC loosens guidance on quarantining, social distancing for COVID-19The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new COVID-19 guidance Thursday, loosening recommendations that have been in place since the onset of the pandemic.
Why it matters: The shift marks a significant change in how the nation deals with COVID-19 more than two years after the pandemic began. A majority of Americans are now fully vaccinated against the virus or have been exposed to it.
Be smart: The CDC is now putting more of an emphasis on personal choices to make informed decisions to protect oneself and others from severe illness, including by vaccination...
From the Left
CDC ends recommendations for social distancing and quarantine for Covid-19 control, no longer recommends test-to-stay in schoolsThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the nation should move away from restrictive measures such as quarantines and social distancing and focus on reducing severe disease from Covid-19.
In new guidelines released Thursday, the agency no longer recommends staying at least 6 feet away from other people to reduce the risk of exposure – a shift from guidance that had been in place since the early days of the pandemic.
The shift is a sign of how much has changed since the beginning of the pandemic more than two...
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