The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that the isolation period for people who test positive for the coronavirus be shortened from 10 days to five days.
Issued on Monday, the guidance follows evidence that people with Covid-19 are most infectious in the two days before and three days after they show symptoms.
After the recommended isolation period, people should wear face masks for five days at the least to ‘minimize the risk of infecting others’, according to the CDC.
In addition, the CDC modified the quarantine time frame for people exposed to Covid-19 to five days, with ‘strict mask use’ after. People who are exposed but have received their booster shot do not need to isolate but are urged to wear a mask for 10 days.
The new guidance strives to balance ‘what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses,’ said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.
It is a recommendation, rather than a mandate, to employers, state and local officials.
Walensky said the Omicron variant is spreading quickly in the US and that the number Covid-19 cases will continue to grow.
‘Not all of those cases are going to be severe. In fact many are going to be asymptomatic,’ she said.
‘We want to make sure there is a mechanism by which we can safely continue to keep society functioning while following the science.’
Last week, the CDC relaxed its guidance to health care workers that said they should stay away from work for 10 days if they test positive. They are now cleared to return to work after seven days if they have negative test results and do not have symptoms. Meanwhile, isolation time can be reduced to five or less days if there are staff shortages.
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