COVID-19 is a zombie that just won’t die. On August 11, 2022, the CDC published new COVID-19 guidelines (here). In many ways, the CDC’s new guidelines drastically depart from its prior guidelines. But, in other ways, the new guidelines re-affirm the CDC’s long-entrenched guidelines. Here are some key takeaways from the new guidelines:
- Deleting the Quarantine Recommendation for People with COVID-19 Exposures. In a dramatic departure from its previous guidelines, the CDC no longer recommends quarantine for people exposed to COVID-19. (Prior CDC guidelines recommended that unvaccinated individuals quarantine for at least five days after exposure). This new guideline applies to all people regardless of vaccination status.
That said, while the CDC no longer recommends that people who were exposed to COVID-19 be quarantined, the CDC recommends that such people get tested for COVID-19 on day 5 after their exposure and wear a mask for 10 days following the exposure.
- Isolation Period for People Who Test Positive for COVID-19. The CDC recommends that people who have tested positive for COVID-19 remain in isolation for a period of at least five days, after which they may end isolation if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication.
- Doing Away With Testing of Asymptomatic People Without Known COVID-19 Exposures. The new guidelines do away with the recommendation that asymptomatic people with no known COVID-19 exposure be tested for COVID-19. In short, the new guidelines recommend testing when a person is symptomatic or has had a known exposure to COVID-19.
- Deemphasis of Social Distancing. You may recall that the CDC had previously emphasized a rule stating that people should maintain a six-foot separation distance between them. However, the new guidelines no longer emphasize a six-foot separation between people. Instead, the CDC now says that social distancing is “just one component of how to protect yourself and others.”
- Emphasis on Vaccination. Unsurprisingly, the new CDC guidelines emphasize the importance of people staying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations. The CDC’s guidelines say vaccines protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death.
We recommend that everyone review the new CDC guidelines as they supplement (not replace) existing federal, state, and local COVID-19 rules.
For more information about the new CDC guidelines and how it can impact your business, contact us at info@mnklawyers.com.
This material is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor does it create a client-lawyer relationship between MNK Law and any recipient. Recipients should consult with counsel before taking any actions based on the information contained within this material.
