The CDC’s new guidance halves the isolation time for people who test positive and also reduces the quarantine time for those who come in close contact.
HOUSTON – COVID cases are skyrocketing and people are looking to health officials for guidance.
On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new recommendations for people who test positive for COVID. Some of the changes are a bit surprising because they are less restrictive than before.
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Here’s an analysis of what the CDC tells you to do if you test positive or come into close contact with someone who tested positive.
The CDC says anyone who has COVID – vaccinated or not – should isolate for five days. Earlier, they had recommended an isolation period of 10 days after a positive result.
The CDC also advises the person to continue wearing a mask until the 10th day after a positive result.
If you’ve been exposed to COVID and had a booster shot — or if you’ve been vaccinated within six months to a two-shot dose or a one-shot dose within two months — the CDC says you don’t. Do absolutely need to quarantine but should self-examine on the fifth day after exposure and wear a mask for at least 10 days.
For everyone else — those without vaccinations — the CDC says you should quarantine for five days and then wear a mask for at least 10 days.
Dr Stanley Spinner said, “I was expecting some of that – not at all.
Spinner is the chief medical officer at Texas Children’s Hospital.
“We’ve already seen, I think, higher numbers than at the peak of the delta, or at least very close to it, and we’re really still early in that,” Spinner said. “Almost everyone’s going to get it and if everyone needs to stay home for 10 days, it’s going to put a strain on our schools, the economy, society. What’s the risk-benefit ratio here? And they ( CDC) determined that the risk of shortening the separation … the benefit of doing it outweighs the risk.”
Studies show that people are most contagious up to three days after they develop symptoms, but some people can still spread the virus after five days.
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