After two-and-a-half years of COVID, the CDC loosened its guidelines last week.

Here are the biggest changes:

No need to quarantine if you’ve been exposed unless you have symptoms.  Instead, wear a mask for ten days, and test on Day 5. You SHOULD still isolate if you have symptoms though.  If you test positive, isolate for at least five days, stay away from high-risk people for ten and if your symptoms come back, start at zero again.

Kids don’t have to isolate just because they’ve been exposed.  Also routine testing at schools isn’t necessary anymore unless there’s an outbreak…important to know as back-to-school season approaches.

Social distancing isn’t always necessary.  You don’t need to worry so much about staying six feet away from people, especially in well-ventilated areas.

One thing they haven’t wavered on is that vaccines and boosters are still crucial.

They may not prevent you from catching COVID, but they do significantly reduce severe illness…so make sure you stay up-to-date on those going forward.

(NY Times / Fox News / CNN / Politico)