To prevent medically significant COVID-19 illness and death, persons must understand their risk and take steps to protect themselves and others. The guidance focuses on preventive measures, such as:
- Vaccines
- therapeutics,
- nonpharmaceutical interventions when needed
- testing
- wearing masks when exposed
- testing if symptomatic
- isolating for ≥5 days if infected.
According to the CDC, COVID-19 remains an ongoing public health threat; however, high levels of vaccine- and infection-induced immunity and the availability of medical and nonpharmaceutical interventions have substantially reduced the risk for medically significant illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.
As transmission continues, the current focus on reducing medically significant illness, death, and health care system strain are appropriate and achievable aims that are supported by the broad availability of current public health tools.
The CDC confirms that rapid identification of emergent variants necessitating a shift in prevention strategy makes continued detection, monitoring, and characterization of variants essential. The guidance states that incorporating actions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 into long-term sustainable routine practices is imperative for society and public health.
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