The CDC is easing its guidance on Covid-19 restrictions. Unvaccinated people no longer have to quarantine if they're exposed to the virus. Instead, they're advised to mask up for 10 days and get tested after day five. Schools can now drop the test-to-stay policy, meaning it is no longer recommended to test people in schools who do not have Covid symptoms. Social distancing has also been deemphasized. Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, regional clinical director at Carbon Health and a member of the Governor's Medical advisory team, joined Cheddar News to discuss. 

Cheddar's News Wrap

CDC Issues New Guidance on Covid-19 Isolation and Health Risk

the CDC is easing its guidance on Covid 19 restrictions. Unvaccinated people no longer have to quarantine if they're exposed to the virus instead they're vies to mask up for 10 days and get tested after day five schools can also now drop the tests to stay policy meaning it is no longer recommended to test people in schools who do not have covid symptoms. And for most americans you can say goodbye to social distancing. Joining me Now to discuss is dr bio curry, Winchell, regional Clinical director at Carbon Health and a member of the Governor's Medical advisory team. Doctor welcome to the show. We always love talking to you. What is your reaction to these updated guidelines? And do you agree with these latest recommendations? This is great news. We have learned so much about Covid 19 now and now we're responding accordingly. And so this will allow less disruption in our daily activities as well as allow Children to stay in school as we prep, you know for back to school time. So I think this is wonderful news in response to what we now know and how we can just continue to be able to combat covid 19. So let's focus on the back to school guidelines as a mother and a doctor. What do you think this means for students moving forward? This is a great opportunity to return to back in school learning and really have less time out of the classroom and we learned, you know what happened last the last two years. Unfortunately students were really um just had a hard time emotionally physically and so this allows Children to get back into the classroom where they do best. And as a mom and a doctor I am so excited for my kiddos to be back in school now some say these updates put more responsibility on individuals rather than business employers and schools. What advice can you offer to people who may feel uneasy and worried about these loosened restrictions? So it's important to remember that the C. D. C. Is trying to really respond to what covid 19 is now. And so it doesn't mean that the virus has gone away. We are now able to use so many resources such as vaccinations and anti viral medications to really help combat um the virus. And so for those who feel anxious um you know and and just having a hard time with this. It's important to honor it but also think about all of the great things we now have to help keep yourself and your family protected. How concerned are you that the increasing leniency surrounding covid will bring us backwards or deter people from getting vaccinated or even boosted. So I'm not too worried. Yes this could possibly um decrease patient's interest in actually getting vaccinated. However we have we have to just continue to invest in the importance of vaccinations. We know that it can help prevent disease it can at least help those who have underlying health conditions. Hopefully have their best chance about fighting it. So um it's important that we kind of just take steps forward and being getting back to our normal lives and then using the resources that we now have and author of the CDC guidelines that these new policies will help us move to a point where Covid 19 is no longer severely disrupting our daily lives. Do you think we're close to that point? Doctor what still needs to be done to get their whole heartedly? So we're getting closer, we now know that this virus is endemic and so we have to continue to lean into the options of being able to wear a mask when you are an area that you know, you're unsure of others vaccination status and being mindful that as we go on, what can we do to really invest in opportunities to protect ourselves? So as we go on, yes, we're gonna have to continue to find different ways to fight this virus because it's not going away. But I am so proud of the fact of what we have achieved and what we now know. And so I think as long as we keep that top of mind we're going to be okay. We just have to keep you know pushing forward and and and being mindful of the resources that we do have moderna is working on an annual shot that targets multiple illnesses like Covid and the flu and one dose what sort of impact do you think that will have? What else could we see in the future here? Doctor, This is wonderful news so far the studies have shown that it has a strong antibody response, especially with the original strain of Covid 19 and the omicron variant. So you know, this will really be a game changer and allow us to have possibly one shot a year versus boosters and so forth. And it really kind of goes back into that playbook of what we know in respect to fighting against viruses. And so when we think about the flu vaccine and other vaccines, sometimes their yearly, sometimes they have, you know, a different kind of frequency. But this will really be an opportunity to stay protected um, throughout the year and I think it's perfect timing. Especially as we think about the fall winter. Thank you. Doctor bio curry Winchell, regional Clinical director at Carbon Health and members of the governor's medical advisory team. We always appreciate it. Have a great weekend.