January 4, 2022
This message includes updates on the COVID-19 response from CDC. The COVID-19 Outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.
Isolation and Quarantine
CDC has updated isolation and quarantine recommendations for the public. These recommendations do not apply to healthcare personnel and do not supersede state, local, tribal, of territorial laws, rules, and regulations.
People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others.
Recommendations for people who are exposed to COVID-19 are also updated. If you are unvaccinated or more than 6 months out from your second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and you are not yet boosted, CDC recommends a quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. If a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure.
People who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for COVID-19 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
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Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccination and Children
Everyone ages 5 years and older should get a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.
COVID-19 vaccines are free to all people living in the United States, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status.
Check with your child’s healthcare provider about whether they offer COVID-19 vaccination.
Check your local pharmacy’s website to see if vaccination walk-ins or appointments are available for children.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots
Vaccines are working very well to protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death, but effectiveness against infection decreases over time.
The Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original virus. Boosters increase your protection from COVID-19, including variants. Get a booster shot 6 months after your Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna series, or 2 months after your Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen shot.
Bring your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card to your booster shot appointment so your provider can add information about your booster dose. If you did not receive a card, contact the vaccination site where you got your first shot or your state health department to find out how you can get a card.
To find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
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Improve How Your Mask Protects You
Masks help protect against variants.
Everyone should continue to wear a mask in indoor public places in areas of high or substantial community transmission, regardless of vaccination status.
In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
Correct and consistent mask use is a critical step everyone can take to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19. Masks work best when everyone wears them, but not all masks provide the same protection. When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits, how well it filters the air, and how many layers it has.
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S.
December 30, 2021
US states, territories, and District of Columbia have reported 53,795,407 cases of COVID-19 in the United States.
CDC provides updated U.S. case information online daily.
In addition to cases, deaths, and laboratory testing, CDC's COVID Data Tracker now has a Vaccinations tab to track distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in your state.
U.S. Cases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd Atlanta, GA 30329 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: 888-232-6348
