New CDC Guidelines: COVID-19 Isolation for Positive Cases Reduced
Americans who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need to stay in isolation for five days, according to the recent announcement by U.S. health officials. The change in guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that individuals can return to work or regular activities as long as their symptoms are mild and improving, and it has been a day since their last fever.
This revised guidance comes at a time when COVID-19 is no longer the public health menace it once was. In fact, it dropped from being the nation’s third leading cause of death early in the pandemic to the tenth last year.
Reasons for the Change
The CDC’s decision to update the guidelines is a result of COVID-19 causing fewer hospitalizations and deaths compared to previous years. The aim is to streamline recommendations, making them similar to longstanding guidance for flu and other respiratory viruses. Many individuals experiencing runny nose, cough, or similar symptoms aren’t identifying whether it’s COVID-19, flu, or something else when seeking testing.
Although the guidance is less stringent, it still emphasizes the importance of individuals with respiratory symptoms staying home while they are sick, according to Dr. David Margolius, the head of Cleveland’s health department. Additionally, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 are likely still contagious.
New Guidelines
The revised CDC guidelines state that individuals with COVID-19 symptoms should stay home until their symptoms are mild and improving, and it has been a day since their last fever. However, it is advisable to continue taking precautions such as wearing masks and maintaining distance from others.
Notably, the previous CDC guidance for workers at nursing homes and other healthcare facilities remains unchanged. It includes a recommendation for medical personnel to stay home for at least seven days after symptoms first appear and to test negative within two days before returning to work. Moreover, the CDC highlights the importance of preventive measures such as vaccination, handwashing, and increasing outdoor fresh air to prevent infections.
Controversies and Concerns
Despite the rationale behind the revised guidelines, concerns have been raised regarding employers potentially requiring employees to return to work before they are ready, potentially posing harm to both the employees themselves as well as their co-workers. As COVID-19 still poses a significant risk, especially to older individuals and those with medical conditions, it is crucial to take precautionary measures.
While the CDC advised seniors to receive an additional dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine, statistics reveal there are still over 20,000 COVID-19-related hospitalizations and over 2,000 deaths each week in the United States, with the highest rates among individuals aged 65 and older.
Impact on Schools
The guidelines may not necessarily prompt schools and child care providers to change their rules. These entities often rely on local authorities for the final decision and consider additional factors like reducing absences. For example, when California eased its guidance, it permitted mildly sick students to attend school and allowed students who test positive for COVID-19 without symptoms to still attend school.
Previous Changes to Isolation Guidelines
The recent update is not the first change to isolation guidelines. Initially, the CDC recommended 10 days of isolation but reduced it to five days in late 2021 for Americans who tested positive with no symptoms or only experienced brief illnesses. Under the previous guidelines, isolation only ended if a person had been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication, and other symptoms were alleviating.
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The abovementioned article has been curated and adapted from original reporting by the Associated Press Health and Science Department. The AP is not affiliated with the AI-generated version and is solely responsible for all the original content.
