CDC shortens recommended quarantines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the standard 14-day quarantine period after someone is exposed to the coronavirus can now be shortened to as little as seven days.

CDC officials said Wednesday that the quarantine period can be shortened to seven days with a negative test result and no symptoms, or 10 days without a test so long as the person does not show symptoms.

The CDC still recommends a full two weeks of self-quarantine as “the best way to reduce risk,” CDC COVID-19 incident manager Dr. Henry Walke said. But officials said the shortened length — determined through “extensive” modeling by the CDC and other agencies — could help boost compliance.

“Reducing the length of quarantine may make it easier for people to take this critical public health action by reducing the economic hardship associated with a longer period,” Walke said on a press call.

Dr. Todd Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health, said the revised recommendations are essentially the CDC acknowledging the effects of “quarantine fatigue.”

“They’re trying to balance science and sociology,” Ellerin said. “If more people abide by the quarantine and we limit it to seven or 10 days based on testing, that’s better than the minority of people doing it for 14 days.”

The CDC also implored people not to travel for the winter holidays. Those who do are urged to get tested one to three days beforehand and three to five days afterward.

“The safest thing to do is to postpone holiday travel and stay home,” CDC Dr. Cindy Friedman said.

The CDC also said health officials across the country should make their own decisions on the length of quarantine based on local conditions.

Massachusetts requires people to quarantine for 14 days after being exposed to the virus, or for 10 days if they show no symptoms and test negative at least eight days into quarantine, according to guidance updated Nov. 18.