Author: COVID-19 NEWS

Left to right: Figure 1 depicts the percentage of COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered to jurisdictions by channel. Figure 2 (middle) depicts the percentage of doses administered by jurisdictional partners and federal programs (retail pharmacy, HRSA FHQC, and FEMA CVC pilots) combined and by federal entities (Bureau of Prisons, Department of Defense, Indian Health Service, and Veteran Health Administration). Furthest to the right, administration ratios (i.e., percentage of delivered doses that have been administered) are measured and presented in four ways: an unadjusted measure and a lagged adjusted measure for all channels (overall) and for jurisdiction + federal programs (excludes federal entities). Data for three city-based jurisdictions, New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago are included in their respective states. Includes data reported as of May 9, 2021. HRSA: Health Resources and Services Administration; FQHC: Federally Qualified Health Center; FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency; CVC: Community Vaccination Center; HHS: US Department of Health and Human Services; NIH: National Institutes of Health.Definitions and Methods
Vaccines Delivered: Includes all doses shipped and recorded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccine ordering system, Vaccine Tracking System (VTrckS). Doses delivered totals include all data reported through May 9, 2021. Vaccines delivered are grouped into three categories:
Jurisdiction: Doses delivered to jurisdictions (state, territory, freely associated state, tribe, or local entity) based on the allotment provided by the federal government. Excludes additional doses transferred to jurisdictions by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for use within Community Vaccination Center (CVC) pilot sites or in mobile clinics.
Federal Programs: Programs through which participants receive their own vaccine allocation from the federal government and report vaccine doses administered through the local jurisdiction’s immunization information system (IIS). These include:
Federal Retail Pharmacy Program: The federal government provides vaccine allotments to 21 retail pharmacy chains that represent approximately 48,000 potential vaccination sites across the country. Totals include deliveries provided as part of the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program to vaccinate staff and residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Participating pharmacies may also receive inventory from jurisdictions via federal pharmacy state transfer program (i.e., the jurisdiction transfers doses directly to a pharmacy partner), which are included in these totals. States that have onboarded pharmacies to be vaccine providers allowing pharmacies to order directly from the state are excluded here and included in the jurisdiction totals.
Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federally Qualified Community Health Center Programexternal icon: HRSA leverages its own federal vaccine allotment and sends inventory to select health centers for administration.
FEMA CVC Pilot Site and Mobile Vaccination Programexternal icon: FEMA transfers its vaccine allocation to the state for ordering and administration and provides logistical, financial, and other support for vaccination clinics.
US Dept. Of Heath and Human Services (HHS)/National Institutes of Health Program: Small program managing doses allocated to multiple HHS agencies for administration to critical federal infrastructure personnel.
Federal Dialysis Center Program: Launched on March 29, 2021; allocations are made directly to participating dialysis center participants to vaccinate patients on dialysis.

Federal Entities: Includes the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Defense, Indian Health Service, and Veterans Health Administration, each receiving its own vaccine allocation.
Vaccines Administered: Includes doses administered within the jurisdiction within a category described above and reported to CDC as of 6am ET on May 9, 2021. COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting Overview provides an overarching view of the IT systems and how they integrate to track COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration. Vaccine administration data for the federal programs are reported to jurisdictions’ IISs and cannot be fully accounted for due to instances where provider type identifiers are missing and/or the use of mixed inventory from both state and federal allocations. Therefore, their administration totals are presented in aggregate with jurisdictional totals. Federal entity administration totals include doses administered by one of the four listed groups within the jurisdiction and are reported directly to CDC.
Unadjusted Administration Ratio: Calculated as the percentage of doses delivered to a jurisdiction that have been administered as of the date reported.
Adjusted Administration Ratio: Calculated as the percentage of doses delivered to a jurisdiction that have been administered, using a cumulative 7-day rolling average for both administrations and deliveries, and a 3-day lag for doses delivered. This accounts for:
Technical issues delaying timely reporting
Vaccines needing to be redistributed within a jurisdiction, which could mean a longer time between initial distribution and administration
Jurisdictions having multiple data systems at the local and state levels
Providers not reporting vaccine doses administered within the required 72-hour period
The adjusted metric is the standard being used to assess administration ratios for the US COVID-19 Vaccination Program. Interpretation of these metrics for remote jurisdictions (e.g., territories, Hawaii, Alaska) should be done with caution, as they have different delivery schedules than jurisdictions located in the continental United States.
Overall Administration Ratio: Percentage of doses (unadjusted and adjusted) delivered to a jurisdiction that have been administered as of the date reported. This includes all doses delivered and administered in the jurisdiction through any channel.
Jurisdiction + Federal Programs Administration Ratio: Percentage of doses (unadjusted and adjusted) delivered to a jurisdiction that have been administered as of the date reported. This includes doses delivered and administered by jurisdictions and through federal programs but excludes those delivered to and administered by federal entities.

Until we know more about how this virus affects animals, CDC encourages pet owners to treat pets as you would other human family members to protect them from possible infection. This means limiting contact between your pets and people outside your household as much as possible and avoiding places where large numbers of people gather.Some areas are allowing groomers and boarding facilities such as dog daycares to open. If you must take your pet to a groomer or boarding facility, follow any protocols put into place at the facility, such as wearing a mask and maintaining at least 6 feet of space between yourself and others if possible.
Limit pet items brought from home to the groomer or boarding facility, and disinfect any objects that are taken into a facility and returned home (such as leashes, bowls, and toys). Use an EPA-registered disinfectantexternal icon to clean items and rinse thoroughly with clean water afterwards. Do not wipe or bathe your pet with chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or other products, such as hand sanitizer, counter-cleaning wipes, or other industrial or surface cleaners. If you have questions about appropriate products for bathing or cleaning your pet, talk to your veterinarian.
Do not put masks on pets, and do not take a sick pet to a groomer or boarding facility. Signs of sickness in dogs may include fever, coughing, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, lethargy, sneezing, discharge from the nose or eyes, vomiting, or diarrhea. If you think your pet is sick, call your veterinarian. Some veterinarians may offer telemedicine consultations or other plans for seeing sick pets. Your veterinarian can evaluate your pet and determine the next steps for your pet’s treatment and care.
See more information on pets and COVID-19 and recommendations for how to help keep your pet safe.

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If you plan to travel internationally, you will need to get tested no more than 3 days before you travel by air into the United States (US) and show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight, or be prepared to show documentation of recovery (proof of a recent positive viral test and a letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).
On January 12, 2021, CDC announced an Order requiring all air passengers arriving to the US from a foreign country to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs and to present the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. Air passengers will also be required to confirm that the information they present is true in the form of an attestation. This Order is effective as of 12:01am EST (5:01am GMT) on January 26, 2021.
For the full list of requirements and exemptions, please review the language in the Order.

International Travel Recommendations
International travel poses additional risks and even fully vaccinated travelers are at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading new COVID-19 variants.
CDC recommends delaying international travel until you are fully vaccinated.
Follow CDC’s after international travel recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions
GeneralDoes this requirement apply to US citizens?This Order applies to all air passengers, 2 years of age or older, traveling into the US, including US citizens and legal permanent residents.Are noncitizens no longer subject to Presidential Proclamation travel restrictions if they can show a negative test or documentation of recovery?The CDC order does not replace the Presidential proclamations. Therefore, a negative test result for COVID-19 or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight does not exempt a foreign national from the travel restrictions outlined in the Presidential proclamations.
With specific exceptions, several Presidential proclamations suspend and limit entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, all noncitizens who were physically present within specific countries during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States.
For a full list of countries and links to the proclamations on the White House website, visit Travelers Prohibited from Entry to the United States.Are US territories considered foreign countries for the purposes of this Order?No, the Order to present a documentation of a negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 does not apply to air passengers flying from a US territory to a US state.
US territories include American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.If I fly from a US state or territory to another US state or territory, but have to transit through a foreign country, am I still required to get a test before the first flight?If you booked an itinerary from a US state or territory to another US state or territory and the itinerary has you taking a connecting flight through a foreign country, you do not need to be tested. An example of this situation is an itinerary booked between the Northern Mariana Islands (a US territory) and the US mainland via Japan.
For information about what to do if you have a short trip to a foreign country from the US, see FAQ Can a test taken before departure from the US be used to return within the 3-day timeframe? How will testing requirements be handled for short trips?Why does the Order specify 3 days rather than 72 hours? What is considered 3 days?The 3-day period is the 3 days before the flight’s departure. The Order uses a 3-day timeframe instead of 72 hours to provide more flexibility to the traveler. By using a 3-day window, test validity does not depend on the time of the flight or the time of day that the test was administered.
For example, if a passenger’s flight is at 1pm on a Friday, the passenger could board with a negative test that was taken any time on the prior Tuesday or after.What is an attestation?An attestation is a statement, writing, entry, or other representation under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 that confirms that the information provided is true. Does this Order apply to land border crossings?No, the requirements of this Order only apply to air travel into the US.Who is checking to make sure that people have a negative test or documentation of recovery before they board a plane to the US?The airline will confirm a COVID-19 negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.What types of SARS-CoV-2 test are acceptable under the Order?Passengers must be tested with a viral test that could be either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Examples of available NAATs for SARS-CoV-2 include but are not restricted to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), transcription-mediated amplification (TMA), nicking enzyme amplification reaction (NEAR), and helicase-dependent amplification (HDA). The test used must be authorized for use by the relevant national authority for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the country where the test is administered. A viral test conducted for U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) personnel, including DOD contractors, dependents, and other U.S. government employees, and tested by a DOD laboratory located in a foreign country also meets the requirements of the Order.Can I get a rapid test?Rapid tests are acceptable as long as they are a viral test acceptable under the Order.Does a self-test meet the conditions of the Order?International air passengers traveling to the United States can use a self-test (sometimes referred to as home test) that meets the following criteria:
The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection. Some FDA-authorized self-tests that include a telehealth service may require a prescription.
The telehealth provider must confirm the person’s identity, observe the specimen collection and testing procedures, confirm the test result, and issue a report that meets the requirements of CDC’s Order (see “What information must be included in the test result?” below).
Airlines and other aircraft operators must be able to review and confirm the person’s identity and the test result details. The passenger must also be able to present the documentation of test results to U.S. officials at the port of entry and local/state health departments, if requested.
For travelers who test positive, CDC recommends the telehealth provider report positive test results to relevant public health authorities in the traveler’s location following local requirements. The telehealth provider should also counsel the traveler on what they and their close contacts should do. This would include not traveling until they complete isolation (if infected) or quarantine (if exposed), in accordance with local requirements.
Some countries may restrict importation of tests that are not authorized or registered there. Travelers who are considering bringing a U.S.-authorized test with them for use outside of the United States should contact authorities at their destination for information before they travel.What information must be included on the test result?A test result must be in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy). The documentation must include:
Type of test (indicating it is a NAAT or antigen test)
Entity issuing the result (e.g. laboratory, healthcare entity, or telehealth service)
Specimen collection date. A negative test result must show the specimen was collected within the 3 days before the flight. A positive test result for documentation of recovery from COVID-19 must show the specimen was collected within the 3 months before the flight.
Information that identifies the person (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number)
Test Result
Does a negative test result or documentation of recovery need to be in English?Airlines and other aircraft operators must be able to confirm the test result and review other required information, and should determine when translation is necessary for these purposes. Passengers whose documents are in a language other than English should check with their airline or aircraft operator before travel.If a passenger has tested positive for COVID-19, and then tests negative, can that passenger travel?Individuals with known or suspected COVID-19 should self-isolate and NOT travel until they have met CDC’s criteria for discontinuing isolation.If a passenger has a negative test, but was a close contact of a known COVID case, can that passenger travel?Individuals who have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 (i.e., who are considered exposed to COVID-19), should self-quarantine and NOT travel until they have met CDC criteria for discontinuing quarantine.Do the requirements of this Order apply to diplomats and special visa holders?Diplomats and special visa holders are not exempt from this Order.Top of PagePassengersWhat if I have had a COVID-19 vaccine or have tested positive for antibodies? Do I still need a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19?Yes, at this time all air passengers traveling to the US, regardless of vaccination or antibody status, are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery.When do I need to get a test to travel to the US and what kind of test do I need?Get tested no more than 3 days before your flight to the US departs. Make sure to be tested with a viral test (NAAT or antigen test) to determine if you are currently infected with COVID-19. Also make sure that you receive your results before your flight departs and have documentation of your results to show the airline.Do state and local governments in the US have separate testing requirements for air passengers?Federal testing requirements must be met to board a plane to the US. Some state and local governments may have similar or more restrictive testing requirements for air passengers arriving in their jurisdictions. Always check and follow state and local recommendations or requirements related to travel in addition to federal requirements.Can a test taken before departure from the US be used to return within the 3-day timeframe? How will testing requirements be handled for short trips?If a trip is shorter than 3 days, a viral test taken in the United States can be used to fulfill the requirements of the Order as long as the specimen was taken no more than three days before the return flight to the US departs. If the return travel is delayed longer than 3 days after the test, the passenger will need to be retested before the return flight.
Travelers considering this option should additionally consider the availability of appropriate testing capacity at their destinations, and the time frame needed to obtain results, as a contingency when making plans for travel.What if I recently recovered from COVID-19?CDC does not recommend getting tested again in the three months after a positive viral test, as long as you do not have symptoms of COVID-19. If you have had a positive viral test in the past 3 months, and you have met the criteria to end isolation, you may travel instead with documentation of your positive viral test results and a letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official that states you have been cleared for travel. The positive test result and letter together are referred to as “documentation of recovery.”
A letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official that clears you to end isolation, e.g., to return to work or school, can be used to show you are cleared to travel, even if travel isn’t specifically mentioned in the letter.What happens if I don’t take a test and want to travel to the US?Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding. If a passenger chooses not to present a test result or documentation of recovery, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.What if I am overseas and can’t get tested before my flight?Passengers should contact the airline regarding options for changing their departure date to allow time for a test, see if the airline has identified options for testing, or if there are options available for changing their flights to transit through a location where they can get tested before boarding their final flight to the United States.I am unable to find a testing site that has a turnaround time of 1-3 days abroad. What should I do?Travelers should consider the availability of appropriate testing capacity at their destinations, and the time frame needed to obtain results, as a contingency when making plans for travel.
For more information on where to obtain a test overseas, travelers should review the relevant U.S. Embassy websiteexternal icon. Travelers may need to consider a routing change to a different country or city in order to meet the testing requirement.What happens if I test positive?People should self-isolate and delay their travel if symptoms develop or a pre-departure test result is positive until they have recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must refuse to board anyone who does not present a negative test result for COVID-19 or documentation of recovery.What kind of documentation of my test result or documentation of recovery do I need to present?Before boarding a flight to the US, you will need to show a paper or electronic copy of your negative test result for review by the airline and for review upon request by public health officials after you arrive in the US.
If you are traveling with documentation of recovery, you must present paper or electronic copies of your positive test result (dated no more than 90 days ago) and a signed letter, on official letterhead that contains the name, address, and phone number of a licensed healthcare provider or public health official, stating that you have been cleared to end isolation and therefore can travel. A letter that states that you have been cleared to end isolation to return to work or school is also acceptable. The letter does not have to specifically mention travel.What personally identifying information is required to confirm negative test result or documentation of recovery? Does it need to be in English?Airlines and other aircraft operators must be able to confirm the test result and review other required information. There should be sufficient personally identifiable information on the test result or documentation of recovery to ensure a match with the person’s passport or other travel information. This could include but is not limited to name, date or birth, age, passport number, etc.
Airlines and other aircraft operators should determine when translation of results or documentation of recovery is necessary for these purposes. Passengers whose documents are in a language other than English should check with their airline or aircraft operator before travel.
See also, What kind of documentation of my test result or documentation of recovery do I need to present?Can I get an exemption or waiver to the testing requirement?Exemptions may be granted on an extremely limited basis when emergency travel (like an emergency medical evacuation) must occur to preserve someone’s life, health against a serious danger, or physical safety and testing cannot be completed before travel.Can I apply for a humanitarian exemption?CDC may grant a humanitarian exemption in limited circumstances only when an individual must travel to the United States to preserve health and safety (e.g. emergency medical evacuations) and is unable to access or complete the testing requirement before travel. Individuals and organizations sponsoring individuals who fit the exemption criteria described in CDC’s Order should contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country from which they are departing for the United States. The embassy will then transmit this information to the CDC for consideration.
You can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulateexternal icon, or call these numbers at the U.S. Department of State headquarters: From the United States and Canada: 888-407-4747; from overseas: 202-501-4444
NOTE: A humanitarian exemption is not needed for people who need to travel via private or medical transport to the United States after testing positive for COVID-19. People who test positive for COVID-19  and have not met CDC criteria to end isolation are exempt from the requirements under the Order if they travel via private or medical transport to the United States. The aircraft operator transporting the person must adhere to CDC’s Interim Guidance for Transporting or Arranging Transportation by Air into, from, or within the United States of People with COVID-19 or COVID-19 Exposure. CDC’s guidance states that other passengers who do not have COVID-19 should not be transported with infected passengers. If a parent or caregiver is required to accompany a minor or other infected person needing assistance during travel, that person must apply for a humanitarian exemption if unable to be tested within 3 days of the medivac departure.
To facilitate the review of a humanitarian exemption request, the following information should be provided to the embassy or consulate for transmission to the CDC:
For each passenger: Name (family name/surname, given name), Passport number and Nationality
Cell phone, including country code, of passenger or head of household if family unit
Email of passenger or head of household if family unit
U.S. destination address
Is U.S. destination home address?

Departure date and flight itinerary, including any connecting flights
Name of submitting entity if different from passenger
Name of company submitting on behalf of passenger(s) (if applicable)
Name of point of contact (POC) submitting on behalf of passenger(s) (if applicable)
Phone and email address for POC submitting exemption request on behalf of passenger(s) (if applicable)

Purpose of travel to the United States (provide brief explanation of why urgent travel is needed, and how travel will contribute to health and safety of passengers(s))
Justification for testing exemption (e.g. no testing available, impact on health and safety)
Documentation to support justification for test exemption (e.g. medical records or orders for medical evacuation)
See the Department of State’s websiteexternal icon for more information on assistance for U.S. citizens overseas.Do passengers also need to have a copy of their attestation as well as the airline retaining it?Passengers are only required to retain a paper or electronic copy of their negative test result or documentation of recovery for the entirety of their itinerary.  The attestation should be submitted to and retained by the airline or aircraft operator.Should passengers retain proof of a negative test or documentation of recovery?Yes, passengers must still retain a paper or electronic copy of the necessary documentation as federal public health officials may request to see these documents at the port of entry. State, territorial, tribal and/or local health departments in the United States may also request them under their own public health authorities.If I am connecting through the US to another country, do I still need to get tested?Yes.  Any flight entering the US, even for a connection, will require testing before departure.If I have one or more connecting flights to the US, does the 3-day period apply to the first flight or the last one? Do I need to get another test if I have a connecting flight?If your itinerary has you arriving to the US via one or more connecting flights, your test can be taken within the 3 days before the departure of the first flight.
If the 3-day testing period expires before one of your connecting flights, you only need to get retested before boarding connecting flights if:
You planned an itinerary incorporating one or more overnight stays en route to the US. (NOTE: You do not need to be retested if the itinerary requires an overnight connection because of limitations in flight availability.), OR
The connecting flight is delayed past the 3-day limit of testing due to a situation outside of your control (e.g., delays because of severe weather or aircraft mechanical problem), and that delay is more than 48 hours past the 3-day limit for testing.
What happens if my flight (or first flight if itinerary includes connecting flights) is delayed past the 3-day limit for testing?If the initial departing flight in your trip is delayed past the 3-day limit of testing due to a situation outside of your control (e.g., delays because of severe weather or aircraft mechanical problem), and that delay is 24 hours or less past the 3-day limit for testing, you do not need to be retested. If the delay is more than 24 hours past the 3-day limit, then you will need to be retested.What happens if my connecting flight is delayed past the 3-day limit for testing?If the connecting flight in your trip is delayed past the 3-day limit of testing due to a situation outside of your control (e.g., delays because of severe weather or aircraft mechanical problem), and that delay is less than 48 hours past the 3-day limit for testing, you do not need to be retested. If the delay is more than 48 hours past the 3-day limit, then you will need to be retested.
See also If I have one or more connecting flights to the US, does the 3-day period apply to the first flight or the last one? Do I need to get another test if I have a connecting flight? If I tested negative before my flight, do I need to get another test when I get to the US?CDC recommends that travelers get tested 3-5 days after travel AND stay home or otherwise self-quarantine for 7 days after travel. Even if you test negative, stay home for the full 7 days. If you don’t get tested, it’s safest to stay home for 10 days. Always follow state and local recommendations or requirements related to travel.
All travelers (including those who have recovered from COVID-19) should remember to wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet apart from people who are not in your household, and wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing and before eating. Travelers should look for symptoms of COVID-19, and take your temperature if you feel sick. Anyone sick with symptoms of COVID-19 should self-isolate and delay further travel.
For more information, visit After You Travel.Do I need to get a test before leaving the US?At this time, CDC does not have a testing requirement for outbound travelers, but recommends that you get tested with a viral test (NAAT or antigen) 1-3 days before you travel internationally. Travelers should check with international destinations for their entry requirements.What is the justification for letting people who recently recovered from COVID-19 travel without a negative test? What about reinfections?People who have recovered from COVID-19 can continue to test positive for up to 3 months after their infection. CDC does not recommended retesting within 3 months after a person with COVID-19 first developed symptoms (or the date of their first positive viral diagnostic test if their infection was asymptomatic). Even if they have recovered from COVID-19, people who develop symptoms of COVID-19 should not travel and should seek care for testing and evaluation. This guidance may be updated as additional information about people who have recovered from COVID-19 becomes available.Can CDC help me get a refund for travel expenses if I have to cancel or delay travel because of testing requirements for air passengers flying to the US?CDC does not reimburse and is unable to help travelers get reimbursements for travel expenses as a result of canceled or delayed travel because of COVID-19 or testing requirements for air passengers flying to the US. While some companies may base their policies on CDC’s travel recommendations or requirements, each company establishes its own refund policies.
In some cases, trip cancellation insurance can protect your financial investment in a trip if you need to change your itinerary in the event of an international outbreak. Visit CDC’s Travelers’ Health website if you would like to learn more about travel insurance, including trip cancellation insurance.Will CDC reimburse me for the cost of a COVID-19 test?CDC is not able to reimburse travelers for COVID-19 testing fees. You may wish to contact your insurance provider or the location that provided your test about payment options.Top of PageAircraft Operators/Airlines/Crew FAQ

VaccinationsThe U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Program began December 14, 2020. As of May 6, 252 million vaccine doses have been administered. Overall, about 149.5 million people, or 45% of the total U.S. population, have received at least one dose of vaccine. About 108.9 million people, or 32.8% of the total U.S. population, have been fully vaccinated.* As of May 6, the 7-day average number of administered vaccine doses reported to CDC per day was 2.1 million, a 26% decrease from the previous week.The COVID Data Tracker Vaccination Demographic Trends tab shows vaccination trends by age group. As of May 6, 83.0% of people ages 65 or older have received at least one dose of vaccine and 70.2% are fully vaccinated. Over one-half (57%) of people ages 18 or older have received at least one dose of vaccine and 41.9% are fully vaccinated.

SARS-CoV-2 TransmissionScientific Brief: SARS-CoV-2 TransmissionSARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by exposure to infectious respiratory fluids, most commonly by people inhaling very small respiratory droplets. The risk of becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 varies according to the amount of virus to which a person is exposed, distance from the source, and ventilation in the space.
May 7, 2021

Masks and HealthStudies on the effects of wearing masks have shown there is no change in oxygen or carbon dioxide levels when people wear cloth and surgical masks while resting and exercising.
The studies included healthy hospital workers, older adults, and adults with COPD.
Although sometimes uncomfortable, masks were found to be safe even when exercising.

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Evaluate your workplace to identify scenarios where workers cannot maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from each other and/or customers. Use appropriate combinations of controls following the hierarchy of controls to address these situations to limit the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. A committee of both workers and management staff may be most effective at recognizing all scenarios.While protecting workers, it is important to note that control recommendations or interventions to reduce risk of spreading COVID-19 must be compatible with any safety programs and personal protective equipment (PPE) normally required for the job task. Approaches to consider may include the following:
Create a COVID-19 Workplace Health and Safety Plan
Review the CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers and the Resuming Business Toolkit for guidelines and recommendations that all employers can use to protect their employees.
Identify an on-site workplace coordinator who will be responsible for COVID-19 assessment and control.
When developing plans, include all employees in the workplace, for example: staff, utility employees, relief employees, janitorial staff, supervisory staff, and bus transit operators.
Develop plans to communicate with passengers entering the bus regarding modifications to work or service processes.
Notify all workers that any COVID-19 concerns should be directed to the identified coordinator.

Implement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices.
Develop policies that encourage sick employees to stay at home without fear of reprisals, and ensure employees are aware of these policies.
If contractors are employed in the workplace, develop plans to communicate with the contracting company regarding modifications to work processes.

Consider conducting daily in-person or virtual health checks (e.g., symptom and/or temperature screening) of employees on scheduled workdays.
Screening options could include having employees self-screen prior to arriving at work or having on-site screening by taking an employees’ temperatures and assessing other potential symptoms prior to beginning work. (see CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers)
Make sure employees can maintain at least 6 feet of distance while waiting for screening if done on site.
Make employee health screenings as private as possible and maintain confidentiality of each individual’s medical status and history.

Take action if an employee is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19
Immediately separate employees who report with or develop symptoms at work from other employees and arrange for private transport home. These employees should self-isolate and contact their health care provider immediately.
Close off any areas used for prolonged periods of time by the sick person.
Employees who test positive for COVID-19 should immediately notify their employer of their results.

SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by exposure to infectious respiratory fluidsThe principal mode by which people are infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is through exposure to respiratory fluids carrying infectious virus. Exposure occurs in three principal ways: (1) inhalation of very fine respiratory droplets and aerosol particles, (2) deposition of respiratory droplets and particles on exposed mucous membranes in the mouth, nose, or eye by direct splashes and sprays, and (3) touching mucous membranes with hands that have been soiled either directly by virus-containing respiratory fluids or indirectly by touching surfaces with virus on them.
People release respiratory fluids during exhalation (e.g., quiet breathing, speaking, singing, exercise, coughing, sneezing) in the form of droplets across a spectrum of sizes.1-9 These droplets carry virus and transmit infection.
The largest droplets settle out of the air rapidly, within seconds to minutes.
The smallest very fine droplets, and aerosol particles formed when these fine droplets rapidly dry, are small enough that they can remain suspended in the air for minutes to hours.
Infectious exposures to respiratory fluids carrying SARS-CoV-2 occur in three principal ways (not mutually exclusive):
Inhalation of air carrying very small fine droplets and aerosol particles that contain infectious virus. Risk of transmission is greatest within three to six feet of an infectious source where the concentration of these very fine droplets and particles is greatest.
Deposition of virus carried in exhaled droplets and particles onto exposed mucous membranes (i.e., “splashes and sprays”, such as being coughed on). Risk of transmission is likewise greatest close to an infectious source where the concentration of these exhaled droplets and particles is greatest.
Touching mucous membranes with hands soiled by exhaled respiratory fluids containing virus or from touching inanimate surfaces contaminated with virus.
Top of PageThe risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection varies according to the amount of virus to which a person is exposed
Once infectious droplets and particles are exhaled, they move outward from the source. The risk for infection decreases with increasing distance from the source and increasing time after exhalation. Two principal processes determine the amount of virus to which a person is exposed in the air or by touching a surface contaminated by virus:
Decreasing concentration of virus in the air as larger and heavier respiratory droplets containing virus fall to the ground or other surfaces under the force of gravity and the very fine droplets and aerosol particles that remain in the airstream progressively mix with, and become diluted within, the growing volume and streams of air they encounter. This mixing is not necessarily uniform and can be influenced by thermal layering and initial jetting of exhalations.
Progressive loss of viral viability and infectiousness over time influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and ultraviolet radiation (e.g., sunlight).
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from inhalation of virus in the air farther than six feet from an infectious source can occur
With increasing distance from the source, the role of inhalation likewise increases. Although infections through inhalation at distances greater than six feet from an infectious source are less likely than at closer distances, the phenomenon has been repeatedly documented under certain preventable circumstances.10-21 These transmission events have involved the presence of an infectious person exhaling virus indoors for an extended time (more than 15 minutes and in some cases hours) leading to virus concentrations in the air space sufficient to transmit infections to people more than 6 feet away, and in some cases to people who have passed through that space soon after the infectious person left. Per published reports, factors that increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection under these circumstances include:
Enclosed spaces with inadequate ventilation or air handling within which the concentration of exhaled respiratory fluids, especially very fine droplets and aerosol particles, can build-up in the air space.
Increased exhalation of respiratory fluids if the infectious person is engaged in physical exertion or raises their voice (e.g., exercising, shouting, singing).
Prolonged exposure to these conditions, typically more than 15 minutes.
Top of PagePrevention of COVID-19 transmission
The infectious dose of SARS-CoV-2 needed to transmit infection has not been established. Current evidence strongly suggests transmission from contaminated surfaces does not contribute substantially to new infections. Although animal studies22-24 and epidemiologic investigations25 (in addition to those described above) indicate that inhalation of virus can cause infection, the relative contributions of inhalation of virus and deposition of virus on mucous membranes remain unquantified and will be difficult to establish. Despite these knowledge gaps, the available evidence continues to demonstrate that existing recommendations to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission remain effective. These include physical distancing, community use of well-fitting masks (e.g., barrier face coverings, procedure/surgical masks), adequate ventilation, and avoidance of crowded indoor spaces. These methods will reduce transmission both from inhalation of virus and deposition of virus on exposed mucous membranes.  Transmission through soiled hands and surfaces can be prevented by practicing good hand hygiene and by environmental cleaning.
Top of PageReferences
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