Nationwide COVID Updates

The CDC released new guidelines recently, detailing a loosening of recommended restrictions for adults in non-healthcare settings. Fully vaccinated people are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 ≥2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or ≥2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson [J&J]/Janssen ).

In summary, these adults can visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing, and with caution, they can visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.

For residents in long-term-care communities, including the communities of Navion Senior Solutions, fully vaccinated residents should continue to take precautions, including:

• In Public, wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distancing
• Wear masks, practice physical distancing, and adhere to other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease
• Wear masks, maintain physical distance, and practice other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households
• Avoid medium- and large-sized in-person gatherings
• Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
• Follow guidance issued by individual employers
• Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations

According to CNN’s report on Sunday, March 7, from Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the highly contagious B.1.1.7 variant has spread to at least 46 states and Washington, DC.

Research shows that in the United States, the B.1.1.7 variant is 59% to 74% more transmissible than the original novel coronavirus. The risk of this strain is not only that it is more easily transmitted, but it is gaining speed just as Spring Break season arrives for college students, and as more and more Americans are deciding to forego mask-wearing, as the news of increasing vaccinations and decreasing case counts—in some parts of the country—are heard.

After weeks of declines, new COVID-19 cases have basically plateaued at high levels each day, according to Johns Hopkins University. On average, more than 60,000 Americans were infected every day over the past week.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, warns that the United States shouldn’t loosen coronavirus restrictions until daily new cases fall below 10,000.

In stark contrast to his warning, news outlets across the country are reporting that numerous states are loosening restrictions and rolling back safety measures. Dr. Fauci calls it “inexplicable” that states are making these decisions so early. While the numbers of individuals who have received the 2-course COVID-19 vaccines may sound impressive, the fact is that 30.6 million people represent just under 10% of the total U.S. population.

Caution and wise decision-making are essential.