New CDC Guidance: Americans with COVID-19 May No Longer Need to Stay Home from Work and School
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is planning to release new guidance that will change the isolation recommendations for Americans who test positive for COVID-19. Under the new guidelines, individuals will no longer need to stay home from work and school for five days. This marks the first time since 2021 that the CDC is loosening its COVID isolation recommendations, aligning them with guidance on how to avoid transmitting the flu and RSV.
The decision to revise the isolation guidelines comes as the COVID-19 landscape has significantly changed since the virus first emerged four years ago. With a large portion of the population having developed immunity through prior infection or vaccination, experts and health officials believe it is time to shift to a more practical approach. Michael T. Osterholm, an infectious-disease expert at the University of Minnesota, emphasizes the importance of being realistic in public health recommendations. He states, “You can be absolutely right in the science and yet accomplish nothing because no one will listen to you.”
Under the new approach, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 can use clinical symptoms to determine when to end isolation. If they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication and their symptoms are mild and improving, they would no longer need to stay home. The CDC’s updated guidance follows similar moves by Oregon and California, although it still requires approval from the White House before its release in April.
The process of revising isolation guidance began in August of last year but was paused as COVID cases surged in the fall. CDC director Mandy Cohen highlighted the need for practical guidelines in a memo sent to staff in January. The current isolation guidance, which hasn’t been updated since December 2021, is not being followed by many people. Health officials recognized this and acknowledged that an update was necessary.
However, the plan to further loosen isolation guidance has raised concerns among vulnerable groups. Lara Jirmanus, a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School and a member of the People’s CDC, argues that COVID-19 should be treated differently from other respiratory viruses due to its deadliness and the increased risk of long-term complications. As many as 7 percent of Americans report suffering from lingering COVID symptoms, such as fatigue, difficulty breathing, and loss of taste and smell.
The new isolation recommendations will not apply to hospitals and other healthcare settings with more vulnerable populations. While vaccines and effective treatments are available, vaccination rates remain relatively low. Only 22 percent of adults and 12 percent of children have received the updated vaccine as of February 9. However, data shows that the vaccines provide robust protection against serious illness.
Although COVID levels in wastewater indicate that infections remain high, hospitalizations and deaths are decreasing. Approximately 20,000 people are still hospitalized and 2,300 are dying from COVID each week, but these numbers are significantly lower than during the peak in January 2021. The lower rates of hospitalizations were among the reasons California shortened its isolation recommendation last month.
California’s state epidemiologist Erica Pan explains that strict isolation guidelines can result in societal disruptions and disproportionately burden workers without sick leave or the ability to work from home. By providing symptom-based guidance similar to the flu, officials can prioritize those at higher risk while balancing the potential for disruptive impacts on schools and workplaces.
Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Australia, have already made changes to their isolation recommendations. Of the 16 countries reviewed by California officials, only Germany and Ireland still recommend a five-day isolation period. The Singapore Ministry of Health even stated that residents could “return to normal activities” once COVID symptoms resolve.
It is important to note that even as the public health emergency was lifted last year, many individuals had already moved on from COVID-19. Testing, masking, and isolating became less common. However, doctors emphasize the importance of sick individuals wearing masks or avoiding unnecessary trips outside the home to protect their communities.
As the CDC prepares to release its updated guidance, it is expected to face both support and criticism. While some argue for a more practical approach given the changing landscape of the virus, others believe that treating COVID differently from other respiratory viruses is necessary due to its severity and long-term effects. The final guidance will need to strike a balance between public health and practicality.
