The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is changing its COVID-19 isolation and quarantine policies.
The CDC made the change Monday, noting data which shows most of the virus transmission happens from a day or two before symptoms develop to as many as three days after symptoms are noticeable.
The CDC now says anybody infected with COVID — regardless of vaccination status — must isolate for at least five days, down from the current 10-day standard. Asymptomatic patients can leave isolation after five days if they wear masks for another five days, thus minimizing the infection risk for others. If symptoms persist, especially fever, people should stay home until symptoms end.
Residents who are exposed and either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated are told to quarantine for five days and then adhere to “strict mask use” for five days after the quarantine period. If a five-day quarantine is not feasible, the CDC says it’s “imperative” that exposed people wear masks in all settings for 10 days after exposure.
Residents who are considered fully vaccinated, booster shot or not, do not have to quarantine after exposure but should wear masks for 10 days. Residents who develop symptoms should immediately quarantine and get tested; they can leave quarantine if the test result is negative.
Click here for the link to the CDC page on the new recommendations.
