Yesterday, March 29, 2022, the CDC launched a new calculator designed to help individuals exposed to COVID-19 discern how many days of quarantine and/or isolation are necessary. This tool was created in order to aid in the prevention of spreading the virus.
Users are first prompted to select whether they have tested positive for COVID-19 or whether they had close contact with someone who had COVID-19. From there, if the user has tested positive, the user answers whether they have symptoms. If the user has symptoms, the calculator asks about specific types of symptoms and after working through the question prompts in the calculator, they are given a date when he or she can safely leave the home. The process is the same for users who do not have COVID-19 but were exposed to someone who was infected. Likewise, the results are contingent on the answers and yield a date when it is safe for that individual to leave their home.
Additionally, the CDC recommended an additional booster shot—the fourth round—for certain classifications of individuals. This recommendation came after the FDA gave authorization for this fourth round for older and immunocompromised individuals. Only Pfizer and Moderna are approved for a second booster.
The individuals eligible for this additional vaccination are those over 50 years old and who received their last booster at least four months prior. For Pfizer specifically, individuals over 12 years of age who have compromised immune systems are also eligible for a second booster if at least four months have elapsed since the administration of their first booster shot. For Moderna, individuals over the age of 18 who have compromised immune systems are eligible for a second booster if at least four months have elapsed since the administration of their first booster shot.
Norton Rose Fulbright lawyers will continue to provide relevant updates for healthcare providers on the Health Law Pulse during the COVID-19 public health crisis.