Survey: Parents still reluctant to vaccinate children against covid 1:35
(CNN) --
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will update its guidance for controlling COVID-19 in the community, including in schools, in coming days, according to sources familiar with the plan.
A preview of the plans obtained by CNN shows that the updated recommendations are expected to ease quarantine recommendations for people exposed to the virus and de-emphasize social distancing.
What precautions should families take against covid-19 now that classes are back in schools?
Our medical analyst explains
The agency is also expected to reduce emphasis on regular COVID-19 testing in schools as a way to monitor the spread of the virus, according to sources briefed on the agency's plans but not authorized to speak. with a reporter.
Instead, he says it may be more useful to base testing on community levels of Covid-19 and whether settings are higher risk, such as nursing homes or prisons.
The changes, which may be released this week, were presented to educators and public health officials.
They are still being deliberate and are not final.
In a statement to CNN, the agency said, "CDC is always evaluating our guidance as the science changes and will update the public as it happens."
What can you do to stop the wave of covid infections?
3:28
As part of the expected changes, the CDC will also soon remove a recommendation that students exposed to Covid-19 be tested regularly to remain in the classroom.
The strategy, called "test to stay," was recommended by the agency in December, during the first wave of omicrons, to keep unvaccinated children who were exposed but had no symptoms in the classroom instead of putting them in quarantine at home.
advertising
The trial to stay required a lot of resources for schools, and some districts had raised concerns about not having enough money to continue, a source said.
In schools and beyond, the agency will no longer recommend staying at least 6 feet away from other people as a protective measure.
Instead, the new guidelines aim to help people understand which types of environments are riskier than others due to factors such as poor ventilation, crowds, and personal characteristics such as age and underlying health.
The CDC is also ready to ease quarantine requirements for people who are not vaccinated or up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Currently, the agency recommends that people who are not up to date on their vaccinations stay home for at least five days after close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
In the future, they won't have to stay home, but they should wear a mask and get tested at least five days after exposure.
Some US cities are debating going back to wearing masks indoors.
This is what you need to know
People who are sick with covid-19 must still isolate themselves, the agency is expected to say.
The agency also plans to reemphasize the importance of ventilation in buildings as a way to help stop the spread of many respiratory illnesses, not just Covid-19.
He plans to encourage schools to do more to clean and freshen indoor air.
Sources say the adjustments reflect both the change in public sentiment toward the pandemic -- many Americans have stopped wearing masks or social distancing -- and a high level of underlying immunity in the population.
Analysis of blood samples suggests that as of December, 95% of Americans have had or been vaccinated against covid-19, reducing the chances of getting seriously ill or dying if they get it again.
CDC recommendations are not legally binding.
Many cities, states, and school districts will review them, but may ultimately follow different strategies.
An example of this is masks in schools.
More than 200 million people (about 60% of the total population) live in a county with a "high community level of covid-19" where the CDC warns of a risk of strain on the health care system and recommends the use indoor mask universal.
However, most schools have kept optional masks on for students this year.
Among the top 500 K-12 school districts, based on enrollment, about 98% don't require masks, according to data company Burbio's school policy tracker.
Still, agency guidance is still important as a reference.
When cities or states try to go beyond what the CDC recommends, they may face pushback.
Covid-19
