On August 11th, CDC issued new COVID recommendations to reduce the incidence rate in the U.S. The guidance includes:-

• Compliance with vaccination recommendations including boosters and new vaccines as they become available

• Elimination of the six-foot social distancing standard, placing the onus on individuals to take precautions in crowded indoor spaces

• Withdrawal of the need for routine screening of asymptomatic people in community settings including schools and universities

• Recommending that infected people isolate for five days at home but should then wear a mask in public for ten days after testing positive.  Isolation may end after five days but individuals should be free of fever for at least one day without medication and be asymptomatic.

• CDC recommended repeating home antigen tests due to inherent insensitivity resulting in false negative results. Retesting after two days is recommended following a negative antigen test. CDC noted that false negative tests are common especially in asymptomatic individuals

Dr. Greta Massetti who participated in developing the updated CDC guidance stated, “We are in a stronger place today as a Nation with more modalities including vaccination, boosters and treatment to protect ourselves and our communities from severe loss due to COVID.”  She added, “This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over but also helps us move to a point where COVID no longer severely disrupts our daily lives.”