New CDC guidelines could change how long Americans isolate after testing positive for COVID-19
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently proposed new guidelines that would change the recommended isolation period for Americans who test positive for COVID-19. Under the potential new guidelines, infected individuals may no longer have to routinely stay home for five days, a departure from the previous recommendations established in 2021.
This supposed change marks the first time the CDC has considered relaxing its COVID isolation guidelines in several years, indicating a potential shift in the agency’s approach to managing the virus. The idea behind the possible change is to align COVID isolation guidelines with similar flu and RSV guidelines, according to agency officials and a health expert familiar with the discussions, as reported by the Washington Post on Tuesday.
However, the CDC has not officially released updated guidelines at this time and maintained in a statement to NBC News that it would continue to make decisions based on the best evidence and science to keep communities healthy and safe.
Experts have noted that the majority of Americans have developed a level of immunity to the virus due to vaccination and/or prior infection. This has led to the consideration of a more thoughtful approach to managing COVID-19, taking into account the evolving science and public willingness to adhere to guidelines.
Under the proposed guidance, the CDC is weighing plans to recommend that symptomatic individuals who test positive for COVID use their symptoms as a guide to decide whether to isolate for five days. This means that infected individuals may no longer need to stay home if they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the help of medication and their symptoms are mild and improving.
Similar actions have already been taken by Oregon and California to relax COVID isolation guidelines. However, this potential change has sparked concerns among some CDC officials and experts, who worry that relaxing the guidelines without corresponding changes in the virus’s infectiousness could pose risks to vulnerable groups.
Public health authorities have been urged to treat COVID differently from other respiratory viruses due to its high lethality and the risk of persistent symptoms known as long COVID. Nearly 7 percent of Americans report having persistent COVID symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, and joint pain, according to CDC data.
Despite these considerations, lower rates of COVID hospitalizations led California to shorten its five-day isolation recommendation last month, while Oregon made a similar move last May. The proposed changes will not apply to hospitals and other health care settings with more vulnerable populations, according to CDC officials.
It remains unclear whether the updated guidance will still recommend wearing masks for 10 days after becoming infected, as reported by the Washington Post. However, doctors have emphasized the importance of wearing masks and avoiding travel outside the home when infected to protect communities from the spread of the virus.
For updated guidance on COVID isolation, individuals can visit the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. The potential changes in isolation guidelines reflect a reevaluation of how to manage COVID-19 in light of evolving science and public health needs.
Sources:
– Washington Post
– NBC News