Close contacts of coronavirus patients have a shorter quarantine period to get through, based on new federal policy.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidelines that shorten the quarantine time from a standard two weeks after contact. The new quarantine period goes seven days if close contacts get a negative COVID-19 test or 10 days with no test taken.
The CDC has been studying a potential change for several months. Studies have shown most people have developed symptoms between four and five days after exposure.
Meanwhile, the CDC is urging Americans to avoid travel for the upcoming Christmas holiday with an ongoing surge in cases seen nationwide. People planning to travel for the holiday should get coronavirus tests one to three days before they start their trips and again three to five days after they return. They should also avoid public activities for a week after getting back home.
Also, a CDC panel is recommending healthcare workers and nursing home residents be first to receive vaccines once those are available. Pfizer and Moderna have both sought emergency use authorizations for their respective vaccines. Those authorizations through the Food and Drug Administration may come before Dec. 31.
