The start of the new school year brings new and more relaxed Covid guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC no longer recommends that kids exposed to Covid go into quarantine, regardless of their vaccination status.
“So, if a kid is exposed now, they can continue to go to school,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, an expert on infectious disease at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. “They should test five days after their exposure, but no more absences because of quarantine. This is a big deal because it’s going to allow kids to remain in school, which they really need to do.”
The new CDC guidelines also deal with routine testing.
“The CDC is saying that it no longer recommends routine testing in K through 12 schools. This is a big change from prior guidelines, and I think it’s reasonable,” Dr. Swartzberg told me.
The CDC did continue to recommend wearing masks, although the new guidelines make that optional.
“Next to vaccines, it’s the best strategy you have to prevent your kid from getting infected,” Dr. Swartzberg said.
More Info:
What the New C.D.C. Guidelines Mean for You
What parents, teachers and students should know about the CDC’s new COVID guidelines
Why the CDC is loosening some of its COVID-19 guidelines
