The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidance Thursday loosening COVID-19 restrictions.
The agency no longer recommends staying six feet away from other people and says contact tracing should be limited to hospitals and high-risk group-living situations.
The guidance also doesn’t advise quarantining for people who’ve been exposed to the virus but aren’t infected. The CDC still encourages testing for people with symptoms and says people who test positive should stay home for at least five days.
“We’re in a stronger place today as a nation, with more tools—like vaccination, boosters, and treatments—to protect ourselves, and our communities, from severe illness from COVID-19,” said Greta Massetti, PhD, MPH, MMWR author. “We also have a better understanding of how to protect people from being exposed to the virus, like wearing high-quality masks, testing, and improved ventilation. This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives.”
