CDC recommends loosened health guidelines for those fully vaccinated
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION)
The Center for Disease Control issued its first set of guidelines on how fully vaccinated individuals can visit safely with others.
The CDC states fully vaccinated people are less likely to have asymptomatic infection and are less likely to transmit the virus, therefore they can take less precautions.
Under the new guideline recommendations, people are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their final vaccine dose and can visit other fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people indoors or other households without having to wear masks or keep a 6 foot distance if those in the other households are at low risk for severe disease.
Those fully vaccinated can also refrain from testing and quarantine if they do not have COVID-19 symptoms after coming into contact with someone who has the virus.
Santa Cruz County Spokesperson Jason Hoppin says the recommendations are a good fit for the county as local case numbers continue to go down.
However, one resident, Richard Maldonado, says he feels it is too soon and that there are not sufficient studies to prove the risk of transmission is completely eliminated even after full vaccination.
“You might be carrying somebody’s germs on your coat or something and pass it on. I don’t think it’s a good thing to lift things, I know people are desperate, the businesses are desperate, but you don’t want a third wave coming in because of a mistake," says Maldonado.
Hoppin says he's encouraged by local cases but says precautions should still be taken.
“We’re still in the early phases of this and understanding how the vaccine works, we’re still in the early phases of understanding how the virus works, frankly, the recommendations are still that large gatherings are a bad idea," says Hoppin.
These recommendations do not apply while out in public and the CDC still recommends being safe with high-risk groups that do not have the vaccine yet.
“If nobody there is at serious risk of illness, no elderly people or no people with serious medical conditions such as diabetes or cancer and things like that and the real purpose is to let grandkids hug their grandparents, which is nice," says Hoppin.
Proof of full vaccinations is not needed as these are still just recommendations. Indoor household gatherings are still not allowed under California guidelines in purple tier counties, including the Central Coast.
