Unvaccinated Kids No Longer Have to Quarantine if Exposed, Per CDC’s ‘Test to Stay’ Protocol

The CDC said Friday that unvaccinated students exposed to COVID-19 no longer need to miss school if they test negative in the days after.

The new guidance, known as the “test to stay” protocol will ease the burden on children who were previously expected to stay home if they come into contact with someone who tests positive, the New York Times reports.

The CDC previously did not endorse the approach, citing a lack of evidence. However, on Friday, the agency released studies from two counties - one in Los Angeles and the other in Illinois - that effectively tested the protocol and found it to be successful.

The policy still calls on students to wear masks and socially distance, and applies only to those who remain asymptomatic as they test for the virus.

The CDC also recommends that vaccinated people get tested five to seven days after close contact with someone who has a suspected or confirmed positive case.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the protocol was “promising” and “now proven.”