CDC cuts recommended quarantine and isolation period after exposure to coronavirus: Coronavirus Update: NPR
A healthcare worker performs a COVID-19 test at the new testing site in the Times Square subway station in New York City on Monday.
Photos by Scott Heins / Getty
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Photos by Scott Heins / Getty
A healthcare worker performs a COVID-19 test at the new testing site in the Times Square subway station in New York City on Monday.
Photos by Scott Heins / Getty
People who test positive for COVID-19 only need to self-isolate for five days if they don’t show symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. This halves the previous recommendation of 10 days of quarantine.
The data shows that the majority of COVID-19 transmission “occurs early in the course of the disease,” the CDC explains — often in the day or two before symptoms begin and two or three days after.
“So people who have tested positive should be isolated for 5 days, if there are no symptoms, they can be isolated if they can continue to wear a mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting people. is different”. CDC said.
The CDC has also updated the recommended quarantine period for people exposed to the virus. It says unvaccinated people must be isolated for five days, followed by five days of “strict mask use”. People exposed more than 6 months after a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or 2 months after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, should also isolate for 5 days.
People who have had a booster shot do not need to be isolated after exposure, but should wear a mask for the next 10 days.
“The Omicron variant is spreading rapidly and has the potential to affect all aspects of our society,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. “CDC’s updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccinations and booster doses. These updates ensure all people can safely continue their daily lives.”
