On December 28, CDC shorted the isolation and quarantine time by introducing new guidelines.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced changes to the quarantine plan by stating that people who have been tested positive should isolate for five days if they don’t have any symptoms. Following this, they have been advised to wear a mask around others.
Previously, people were asked to quarantine for ten days if they had been tested positive.
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Why did CDC shorten quarantine time?
CDC decided to shorten the quarantine period due to a new study that found that transmission usually occurs one or two days before or after the symptoms.
The statement read: “The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to the onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after. Therefore, people who test positive should isolate for five days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for five days to minimize the risk of infecting others.”
It further noted: “Alternatively, if a five-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure.”
Do the same rules apply to people who have received boosters?
Things are a bit different for people who have received their booster shots, CDC notes: “Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.”
The statement continued: “For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day five after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately be quarantined until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.”
What this change hopes to do for the society
Dr. Anthony Fauci stated that these changes were made to ensure that society is able to run smoothly.
He noted: “With the sheer volume of new cases that we are having and that we expect to continue with Omicron, one of the things that we want to be careful of is that we don’t have so many people out. We want to get people back to the jobs, particularly the essential jobs, to keep society running smoothly.”
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