The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed many of its guidelines this week, moving away from some of the precautions that have defined the Pandemic.
The move was made due to the fact that many Americans now have immunity to the coronaviruses through a combination of vaccinations and previous infections, as well as the availability of vaccines, booster shots and antivirals that can reduce the risk of severe disease.
The public health agency wanted to help people manage their own risk by streamlining the recommendations. The guidelines are complex and contain a lot of different things.
Some questions about the guidelines are answered here.
Keeping a distance from others is one of the ways that people can reduce their risk, according to the C.D.C..
People who weren't up-to-date on their vaccinations should stay at least six feet away from other people.
The agency suggests that people avoid crowded areas and keep a distance from others in order to minimize their exposure to the virus. It's important for people who are at high risk for Covid-19 to take this precautionary measure.
Guidelines for the general mask have not changed. When the local Covid-19 community level is high, the C.D.C. recommends that everyone under the age of 2 wear a mask. The guidelines state that people who are at high risk for severe disease should wear a mask.
According to the C.D.C., nearly 40% of the United States are at a high community level.
The C.D.C. used to recommend quarantining people who were not up-to-date on their vaccinations and had been in close contact with someone with Covid-19. According to the previous guidelines, people who were up-to-date on their shots didn't need to be involuntarily hospitalized.
One of the biggest changes in the new guidance is the removal of theQuarantine recommendation
The director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health said thatQuarantines are a "blunt tool". I think we need to change how we think about controlling the virus.
People who have been exposed to the virus can continue with their daily routines if they remain free of symptoms. They should wear a mask for 10 days, take extra precautions around vulnerable people, and get tested at least five days after exposure.
You may need to test yourself frequently if you use an at- home test. In order to reduce the risk of false negative results, people who have no symptoms should take at least three tests in 48 hours. At least two tests should be taken by people who have Covid-19 symptoms.
Michael Mina is the chief science officer for e Med, a company that sells home tests. That takes time.
Take a break at home for at least five days. The recommendation is the same.
According to the guidelines, you can leave isolation after Day 5 if you have been symptom free for at least a day.
The C.D.C. used to recommend that people with Covid-19 wear a mask. People can remove their masks sooner if they test negative on two rapid antigen tests. Others should not leave their masks on for more than a week.
The agency said that people with compromised immune systems should be isolated for 10 days.
The new guidelines state that people should begin their isolation periods if symptoms return.
Some of the restrictions that have been difficult to enforce include navigating a different set of rules for vaccine and unvaccinated people. Quarantines have caused a lot of trouble in schools.
Children who have been in close contact with someone who has Covid-19 don't need to stay home and schools don't need to administer frequent tests in order to keep these children in the classroom, according to the new guidelines. According to the C.D.C., contact tracing is no longer necessary in most settings.
Many schools have been moving away from these measures and the new guidelines may not make a difference. Massachusetts dropped its requirements for children with no symptoms.
The federal guidance may prompt some localities to relax their rules for the upcoming academic year.
The president of the American Federation of Teachers welcomed the guidelines. Every school year starts with hope and this year is no different. We need as normal a year as possible so we can focus on what kids need, after two years of uncertainty and disruption.
The New York State Department of Health said in an email to The New York Times that it would issue its own back-to-school guidance soon.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said on Friday that it was still working on plans for the upcoming school year.
According to the guidelines of the C.D.C., schools that are experiencing an outbreak may want to put in place additional precautions.
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