U.S. officials drop 5-day isolation time for COVID
Americans who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need to stay in isolation for five days, U.S. health officials announced Friday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its longstanding guidance, saying that people can return to work or regular activities if their symptoms are mild and improving and it’s been a day since they’ve had a fever.
The change comes at a time when COVID-19 is no longer the public health menace it once was. It dropped from being the nation’s third leading cause of death early in the pan- demic to 10th last year.
Most people have some degree of immunity to the coronavirus from past vacci- nations or from infections. And many people are not fol- lowing the five-day isolation guidance, some experts say.
“Our goal here is to con- tinue to protect those at risk for severe illness while also reassuring folks that these recommendation are simple, clear, easy to under- stand, and can be followed,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, the CDC’s director,
However, some experts worry that the change may increase the risk of infection for older people and others who are more vulnerable to getting seriously ill.
Why are guidelines changing?
COVID-19 is not causing as many hospitalizations and deaths as it did in the first years of the pandemic. The change is an effort to streamline recommenda- tions so they are similar to longstanding recommendations for flu and other respi- ratory viruses. Many people with a runny nose, cough or other symptoms aren’t test- ing to distinguish whether it’s COVID-19, flu, or some- thing else, officials say.
It may not be as stringent, but the guidance emphasizes that all people with respi- ratory symptoms should stay home while they are sick, said Dr. David Margo- lius, the head of Cleveland’s health department.
People are likely still con- tagious when they test posi- tive, and that hasn’t changed, said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University’s School of Public Health.
“What has changed is how much COVID is harming us as a population,” Nuzzo said.
What are the new guidelines?
If you have symptoms, stay home until your symp- toms are mild and improv- ing and it’s been a day since you’ve had a fever. But then you can remain cautious by wearing a mask and keep- ing a distance from others.
However, the CDC guidance for workers at nursing homes and other health care facilities is staying the same. That includes a recommendation that medical personnel stay home at least seven days after symptoms first appear, and that they test negative within two days of returning to work.
Is there opposition to this change?
Yes, and even some who understand the rationale for the change have concerns.
“My biggest worry in all of this is that employers will take this change in guidance to require employees to come back to work ... before they feel well enough, and before they are not likely to pose harm to their co-workers,” Nuzzo said.
COVID-19 remains especially dangerous to older people and those with medical conditions. There are still more than 20,000 hospitalizations and more than 2,000 deaths each week due to the coronavirus, according to the CDC. Those 65 and older have the highest hospitalization and death rates.