Those in the US who have completed both their coronavirus vaccinations won’t have to face quarantine... Will the UK soon see the same rule?
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Those who are vaccinated can skip quarantine
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention revealed on Thursday that those who have had two doses of coronavirus vaccines will not have to go into quarantine if they had been in contact with someone who tested positive.
However, they assured that this doesn’t mean that vaccinated people don’t need to take precautions.
The CDC stated that in order to be considered exempt from quarantine or self-isolation, the person must have had their second jab at least two weeks beforehand. And, because it is not known exactly just how long the effects of the vaccine will last, those who had their last shot more than three months before will again need to quarantine.
Despite not having to quarantine, fully vaccinated people should still watch out for COVID symptoms for 14 days after coming into contact with the virus. Additionally, everyone will still have to follow all precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Will the UK soon see the same rule?
Since the beginning of the vaccine rollout, the UK has seen over 13 million people receive their first dose. But could vaccinations be the key to a quarantine free UK?
It is still unsure as to whether or not vaccinated UK residents will need to quarantine when it comes to contact cases as there are still some questions that need to be answered. For one, researchers just aren’t sure if vaccinated people can still transmit the virus to others. It is also not known how long the vaccinations last before losing their efficacy or if they will be just as effective amongst emerging variants. Dr Kate O’Brian explained:
We don't know yet how long immunity lasts from the vaccines that we have at hand right now. We're following people who have received vaccinations to find out whether or not their immune response is durable over time and the length of time for which they're protected against disease. So we're really going to have to wait for time to pass to see just how long these vaccines last.
Despite the uncertainties, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Prime Minister Boris Johnson are both hopeful that the vaccine rollout will soon provide people with some freedom. SAGE’s Professor Andrew Hayward also revealed:
Once the most vulnerable people, particularly those over-50 and those with chronic illnesses, are vaccinated then yes, I think we can see a significant return to normality. I think what we’ll see is a phased opening up as vaccination levels increase. Then we’ll be more or less back to normal for the summer, I would imagine.
However, keep in mind that ‘normal’ still means masks, social distancing and lots of hand sanitiser.
