With vaccination drives going on in full swing around the world, the world is holding its breath and waiting to see if this will start to usher in a return to the “Old Normal” we all knew so well.
Fully vaccinated people In the US can:
- Resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance
- Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel
- Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States
- Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings
- Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic
- Refrain from routine screening testing if feasible
But they also have to
- Get tested if experiencing any Covid symptoms.
- Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations
The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection is minimal for fully vaccinated people. The transmission from fully vaccinated people to unvaccinated people is also reduced. Therefore, fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing themselves, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. Fully vaccinated people should also continue to wear a well-fitted mask in correctional facilities and homeless shelters. Preventions are still recommended for unvaccinated people
Domestic travel norms
· Fully vaccinated travellers do not need to get a SARS-CoV-2 viral test before or after domestic travel unless testing is required by local, state, or territorial health authorities.
· Fully vaccinated travellers do not need to self-quarantine following domestic travel.
International travel norms
· Fully vaccinated travellers do not need to get tested before leaving the United States unless required by their destination.
· Fully vaccinated air travellers coming to the United States from abroad, including U.S. citizens, are still required to have a negative SARS-CoV-2 viral test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board a flight to the United States.
· International travellers arriving in the United States are still recommended to get a SARS-CoV-2 viral test 3-5 days after travel regardless of vaccination status.
· Fully vaccinated travellers do not need to self-quarantine in the United States following international travel.
Recommendations for Isolation, Quarantine and Testing
The following recommendations apply to non-healthcare settings. Guidance for residents and staff of healthcare settings can be found in the Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination.
What if I’m fully vaccinated with COVID-19 symptoms?
Although the risk that fully vaccinated people could become infected with COVID-19 is low, any fully vaccinated person who experiences symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should isolate themselves from others, be clinically evaluated for COVID-19, and tested for SARS-CoV-2 if indicated. The symptomatic fully vaccinated person should inform their healthcare provider of their vaccination status at the time of presentation to care.
