The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its recommendation for the number of days Americans testing positive for COVID-19 must isolate. After five days, people with the virus can leave isolation, which is half of the previous 10-day recommendation.
It was also announced Monday that anyone exposed to coronavirus can also leave quarantine after five days. The recommendation stems from growing evidence that people with the virus are most contagious two days before and three days after developing symptoms.
The decision was directed by the recent surge in the omicron variant, which is highly infectious. There is concern that the number of people becoming infected will strain hospitals, airlines, and other businesses ’ abilities to remain open with the number of staff having to quarantine.
“Not all of those cases are going to be severe. In fact, many are going to be asymptomatic,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told The Associated Press. “We want to make sure there is a mechanism by which we can safely continue to keep society functioning while following the science.”
After the five days of isolation, the CDC recommends five days of mask-wearing when around other people if asymptomatic. Wearing a mask will help minimize the risk of spreading the virus to others.
If exposed, only those who received booster shots can avoid quarantine if they wear a mask for ten days. Previously, if you were considered fully vaccinated, you could skip quarantine. Now, the fully vaccinated who have not received a booster must follow the same rules as the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
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