CDC has released new
public health guidance for individuals who are fully vaccinated. CDC is now recommending that in non-health care settings, fully vaccinated people can:
- Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing;
- Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing; and
- Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic.
CDC defines “fully vaccinated people” as individuals who:
- Received either two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine; and
- Two weeks have passed from the date of their final vaccination.
CDC indicates that fully vaccinated people should continue to take basic precautions such as wearing masks in public, avoiding medium to large size gatherings, and testing if symptomatic. More information and complete guidance are available on the
CDC website.
While the new guidance does not directly apply to LTC settings, it does apply to staff outside of work. Providers can use this new guidance to encourage staff to become vaccinated. Positive messages about the value of the vaccine are shown to be a top
strategy in encouraging staff uptake.
Please note that CMS has NOT issued changes to any of their nursing home visitation or quarantine guidance, so existing guidelines remain in effect. Also, some states have specific guidance on visitation and quarantine in LTC that must continue to be followed.
AHCA/NCAL will continue to
advocate to CDC and CMS on updating restrictions on visitation and other guidance in LTC settings given the evidence on vaccine effectiveness continues to grow.