New York Governor Kathy Hochul shortened the quarantine period for many essential workers even as infections increased due to the omicron variant.
Mary Altaffer / AP
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Mary Altaffer / AP
New York Governor Kathy Hochul shortened the quarantine period for many essential workers even as infections increased due to the omicron variant.
Mary Altaffer / AP
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said most of the state’s essential workers can return to work just five days after testing positive for coronavirus if they are fully vaccinated and meet other safety standards.
Previously, workers were required to take at least 10 days off work.
Hochul said on Friday changes in quarantine guidelines would make it easier to maintain “critical services New Yorkers need, health care, transportation, groceries.”
The policy change will affect employees in many industries, from pharmacies and food processing plants to hospitals and taxi fleets.
The governor made the announcement because infections had increased nationally due to the omicron variation.
In New York state, officials say the number of daily infections has increased significantly in recent days, rising from about 22,000 on Tuesday to more than 44,000 on Thursday.
During a Christmas Eve briefing, Hochul also pointed to data showing that the latest strain of COVID can cause less severe infections.
“Being positive doesn’t mean you’re too sick [to work] and required hospitalization,” she said. We want to make sure that our critical workforce … can return. “
In a statement, New York’s powerful Health Commissioner, Dr Mary Bassett said the impact of winter omicron increases on the workforce “has been felt.”
“Reducing isolation from 10 days to 5 days is reasonable guidance and is consistent with recent CDC guidance for healthcare workers,” Bassett said.
On Thursday, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new national guidelines allow workers with COVID-19 to return to work 7 days after quarantine, with a new negative test result.
“[T]The CDC said the cap quarantine period could be further cut if there is a shortage of staff. in a statement.
Officials in New York have opted to cut the quarantine period even further – setting the state’s rule to 5 days instead of 7. They also said workers returning to work do not need to be tested again.
However, employees must be fully vaccinated and wear masks at work. They must also be asymptomatic or “mildly symptomatic,” with no fever for 72 hours.
During his press conference, Hochul said the rising hospitalization rate is also adding to the strain on medical staff. She voiced her sorrow for those who have lost loved ones to the pandemic during the holiday season.
“Our hearts go out to their family members on the eve of this beautiful holiday,” Hochul said. “To know that there’s going to be an empty seat on the table, it must be painful.”
