CDC lifts COVID-19 quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated individuals outside health care

Most individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for at least two weeks and no more than three months need not quarantine after exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 if they have not had COVID-19 symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said yesterday in updated guidance.

The guidance generally applies to people who have received a second Pfizer or Moderna vaccine dose, excluding vaccinated health care personnel, inpatients and residents in health care settings. However, CDC said the guidance could be applied when considering work restrictions for fully vaccinated health care personnel as a strategy to alleviate staffing shortages, and that exposed health care personnel would not be required to quarantine outside of work.

Health care facilities also could consider waiving quarantine for vaccinated patients and residents when needed to mitigate critical issues, such as lack of space, staff or personal protective equipment.

The agency expects to update the guidance when more data and additional COVID-19 vaccines become available.