CDC to release guide to life after vaccination, with normalcy still a long way off

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to release guidance this week – possibly as early as Thursday – on activities considered safe for people fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

But, while much of the country longs for a return to normalcy, the guidance is unlikely to give a satisfactory taste of it. People who are fully vaccinated will be advised to continue to adhere to most public health measures, such as wearing masks and physical distancing in most settings. Although they get the green light for limited social gatherings, these should be kept small and at home, and they should only include other fully vaccinated adults, according to early reports.

During a press conference on Monday, Anthony Fauci, a leading specialist in infectious diseases, gave an example:

I use the example of a girl from out of town who is double vaccinated, and a double vaccinated husband and wife, and maybe a neighbor next door who, you know, is doubly vaccinated. Small gatherings in people’s house, I think you can clearly feel that the risk – the relative risk – is so low that you wouldn’t have to wear a mask, that you could have a good social gathering at home. Beyond that, it will be based on a combination of data, a combination of modeling and a combination of clinical common sense.

The guide will outline other scenarios and considerations for socializing, as well as travel.

Two senior officials in the Biden administration working on the guidance told Politico the recommendations would align closely with recent advice from CDC director Rochelle Walensky, who has repeatedly stressed the need to maintain health measures at this point. fragile from the pandemic.

“Critical link”

“Now, more than ever, we must do all we can to stop the spread of the virus,” Walensky said at a press conference on Wednesday. She pleaded with Americans to continue wearing masks, staying six feet apart, avoiding crowds and avoiding travel.

“Today we are at a critical link in the pandemic,” warned Walensky. After new cases of COVID-19 dropped for weeks, they have now stagnated at high levels, she noted.

“So much can turn out in the next few weeks,” she said. “On the one hand, cases in the country are stabilizing at rates just on the cusp of resurgence potential and the hyper-transmissible variant B.1.1.7 is looming poised to hijack our successes to date. And, on the other hand, endurance has run out, fatigue wins out, and the exact steps we have taken to stop the pandemic are now too often blatantly ignored.

Many states in recent days have relaxed restrictions. Massachusetts, for example, lifted restaurant capacity restrictions. Iowa, Mississippi, Montana and Texas, among others, have lifted mask warrants.

Walensky spoke directly to the Americans. “Whether or not he is mandated … we can always take the right public health measures to protect ourselves and others.”