ALBANY COUNTY — People who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer have to quarantine if they have been exposed to the virus, according to the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 According to the guidance, “asymptomatic fully vaccinated individuals,” meaning people who have received both shots and at least two weeks have passed since the second shot, are no longer required to quarantine within 90 days after the second shot. 

“From the outset of the pandemic, New York State has followed the science and listened to the experts, and quarantine requirements only for New Yorkers who have received both shots will be similarly updated to reflect the CDC’s new guidance,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo in a statement on Thursday.

“However,” he went on, “the science regarding COVID transmissibility post-vaccination remains unsettled, and this updated guidance is not an all-clear for New Yorkers to let their guard down. 

“All New Yorkers, including those who have been fully vaccinated, should continue to wear masks, social distance, and be smart until herd immunity is reached and this pandemic is fully relegated to the history books.”

The CDC also recently updated its guidance on mask-wearing to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The CDC conducted experiments to assess two ways of improving the fit of medical procedure masks: fitting a cloth mask over a medical procedure mask, and knotting the ear loops of a medical procedure mask and then tucking in and flattening the extra material close to the face.

“Each modification substantially improved source control and reduced wearer exposure,” the CDC states.

In Albany County, another resident — a man in his seventies — has died of COVID-19, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy announced in a release on Thursday morning.

His death brings the county’s toll to 337.

McCoy also announced 91 new cases of COVID-19 since Wednesday, bringing the county’s tally of confirmed cases to 19,362.

Of the new cases, 45 did not have clear sources of infection identified, 34 had close contact with someone infected with the disease, 11 were healthcare workers or residents of congregate settings, and one had traveled out of state.

The five-day average for new daily positives has decreased to 88 from 95.8. There are now 850 active cases in Albany County, down from 868 yesterday.

The number of Albany County residents under mandatory quarantine increased to 1,885 from 1,822. So far, 59,205 residents have completed quarantine. Of those, 18,512 had tested positive and recovered. That is an increase of 105 recoveries since Wednesday.

There were eight new hospitalizations overnight, and there are now 90 county residents currently hospitalized from the virus — a net decrease of seven. There are now 16 patients in intensive-care units, up from 12 yesterday.

Of the state’s 10 regions, the Capital Region continues to have the worst rate of available hospital beds, although that rate has increased to 28 percent, according to a Thursday release from the governor’s office.

Currently, 302 Capital Region residents are hospitalized with COVID-19, which is 0.03 percent of the region’s population.

Statewide, 0.04 percent of New Yorkers are hospitalized with the virus, which leaves 33 percent of the state’s hospital beds available.

The Capital Region also continues to have the worst rate of available ICU beds, at 16 percent. Currently 211 of the region’s 241 ICU beds are filled.

Statewide, 25 percent of ICU beds are available.

As of Wednesday, as a seven-day average, the Capital Region had an infection rate of 3.03 percent. Statewide, the positivity rate was 4.16 percent.

As of Wednesday, as a seven-day rolling average, Albany County had an infection rate of 3.0 percent, according to the state’s dashboard.

The Capital Region has administered 151,944 of the 192,475 vaccine doses it has been given this week, which is 79 percent.

Statewide, 81 percent of doses have been administered.