CDC reduces quarantine time

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Significant changes to the Covid-19 quarantine process were announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Dec. 27.

The CDC’s new guidance advises individuals who test positive for Covid to isolate themselves for five days rather than 10 if asymptomatic or if symptoms are clearly resolving. The Covid-positive individual may leave home but is advised to continue wearing a mask around others for five additional days.

“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 one-to-two days prior to onset of symptoms and the two-to-three days after,” the CDC said.

“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.”

CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky went on the record to speak on the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and her advice for American citizens to combat the virus that made its way to the country in 2020.

“The Omicron variant is spreading quickly and has the potential to impact all facets of our society,” Walensky said. “CDC’s updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses.

“These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives. Prevention is our best option: get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial and high community transmission, and take a test before you gather.”

The CDC is also recommending Individuals who have been exposed to Covid that are boosted, completed the primary series of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last six months or completed the primary series of the J&J vaccine within the last two months wear a mask around others for 10 days and test on day five, if possible.

Unvaccinated individuals or people who have not been boosted after six months of completing the primary Moderna or Pfizer vaccination series or two months after the primary series of the J&J vaccine are advised to stay home for five days and continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days.

“If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days,” the CDC said. “Test on day five if possible.”

According to an email from Washington County Covid-19 spokesman Roger Wickes on Dec. 29, Washington County continues to follow CDC guidance as approved by the state Department of Health.

However, the change in quarantine time has not formally been ratified by the state Department of Health.

“The new CDC directives have not yet been ratified by the state, but we anticipate they will be shortly and we’ll do our best to get them out to the public and explain what they mean,” Wickes said.

“Our people are not epidemiologists. They have to rely on the experts for guidance on what works and what doesn’t. There is a lot of science that goes into this. Sometimes it takes time to develop the current thinking which is reflected in past guidance on things like masks. We’re doing our best to stay current.”