PANDEMIC

What the New CDC Guidance Means — From One of NYC’s Leading Infectious Disease Experts

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

We are getting there. There is light at the end of this horribly dark tunnel. On Thursday, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued new guidance ok’ing the fully vaccinated to get back to life, without a mask — for both outdoor and indoor activities. The guidance came unexpectedly, but was greeted with glee by millions across the country. As NBC News reported, “It’s a move the agency said was driven by scientific evidence that the vaccines play a major role in curbing both infections and transmission of the virus.” That means the data nows shows that vaccines stop the spread. And they keep you from serious illness.

The new CDC guidance states, “(1) If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic. (2) Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”

I got the chance to speak today with one of New York’s leading infectious disease experts, Dr. Joseph Rahimian, who was happy to hear the news but cautioned against a full return to normal. “The risk for people who are vaccinated is certainly low,” he…