According to an update on the CDC website, the nation’s top public health agency relaxed its COVID-19 guidelines yesterday (8/11), dropping the recommendation that Americans quarantine themselves if they come into close contact with an infected person. In addition, the CDC says people no longer need to stay at least 6 feet away from others. This relaxing of standards has come as an estimated 95% of Americans 16 and older have acquired some level of immunity, either from being vaccinated or through natural infection.

The biggest change for educational institutions is the end of the recommended routine daily testing, although that practice can be reinstated depending on the situation, which would only occur during a surge in infection. In addition, the "test-to-stay" recommendation disappears with the dismissal of quarantining guidelines. "Test-to-stay" said that students exposed to COVID-19 could regularly test, instead of quarantining at home, to keep attending school. And, again, mask are optional for all students and teachers, unless otherwise noted based on infection levels.

These new recommendations are focused on keeping kids in school as much as possible. According to a report from the Associated Press posted on KCRG, the American Federation of Teachers, one of the nation’s largest teachers unions, said it welcomes the guidance,

 “Every educator and every parent starts every school year with great hope, and this year even more so,” President Randi Weingarten said. “After two years of uncertainty and disruption, we need as normal a year as possible so we can focus like a laser on what kids need.”

The past isolation policies forced millions of students to stay home from school even though the virus posed a relatively low risk to our youth.

According to the CDC, the updated guidance is intended to apply to community settings. In the coming weeks the CDC will continue to work to align stand-alone guidance documents. That guidance will be specific to settings such as  healthcare, congregate areas with a higher risk of transmission, and travel.

For the full details visit this website https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0811-covid-guidance.html

Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?

Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.

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