End of quarantine: CDC modifies back-to-school covid recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the modification of its coronavirus guidance. Students will be able to attend school, which has already started in some states, even if they have been exposed to the virus.

The CDC no longer recommends testing students and school employees who have had contact with the virus but do not have symptoms of illness. These tests are now limited to a recommendation for high-risk settings, such as nursing homes, prisons or homeless shelters.

Schools are not considered high risk. In case of student exposure to the virus, the CDC said it is sufficient to wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on the fifth day. "It is likely to be most infectious during the first five days," the paper noted.

Conversely, if positive, CDC advised immediate isolation and staying home regardless of vaccination status.

Greta Massetti, a CDC epidemiologist, said the country has the necessary vaccines and treatments to combat the virus. He insisted that it remains crucial for everyone to keep up to date with their vaccinations. "We know better how to protect people from exposure to the virus, such as wearing high-quality masks, testing and improving ventilation." "This guidance recognizes that the pandemic is not over, but it also helps us move toward a point where Covid-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives," the public health agency spokeswoman stressed.