Americans who contract the coronavirus or other respiratory infections do not need to quarantine for five days before returning to work or school, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday, reflecting its attitude toward the coronavirus. This is a noticeable sign of change.
People with respiratory illnesses may resume their daily activities if they have not had a fever for at least 24 hours and their symptoms have improved without the help of medication, officials said.
Recognizing that people can be contagious even when they have no symptoms, the CDC urges people who leave quarantine to limit close contact with others, wear properly-fitting masks, and monitor indoor air quality. They called on people to improve their hygiene and practice thorough hygiene practices, such as washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes. day to day.
CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen told reporters Friday that the guidelines apply to coronavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, among other respiratory illnesses, and should make it easier for people to comply. Ta.
“Our goal here is to continue to protect people at risk of serious illness while ensuring that these recommendations are simple, clear, easy to understand and follow. It’s about reassuring people,” she said.
Dr. Cohen noted that the number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations and deaths this winter are significantly lower than in previous years, with the majority of hospitalizations occurring among Americans who have not received up-to-date vaccinations. It was said that it occurred between.
Vaccination also reduces the chance of long-term illness from COVID-19, it added.
The last time the CDC changed its isolation policy for people infected with the coronavirus was two years ago during the Omicron wave, when record infections brought the country to a standstill. The quarantine period has been shortened from 10 days to 5 days.
Dr. Brendan Jackson, who leads the agency’s respiratory virus response, said the agency has unified recommendations for respiratory illnesses because the symptoms are often difficult to differentiate and the spread of the virus is similar. This is because it can be prevented using similar strategies. team.
Some outside experts praised the changes. “I think this makes a lot of sense because people aren’t getting tested,” said Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist at Bellevue Hospital Center and general public health editor for KFF Health News. the doctor said.
“How can I follow the correct guidance for coronavirus, influenza, RSV and cold viruses if I don’t know which virus I have?” she said.
Even as the agency considered the change, some experts expressed concern that it could lead the public to believe the coronavirus was no longer a threat. They also worried that without a five-day quarantine recommendation, employers could put pressure on employees to return to work before they feel well.
Few measures have been taken to improve indoor air quality in most places, and wearing a mask can be socially uncomfortable for many people, Dr. Gounder said.
“This again places a tremendous burden on individuals who must take the right public health actions,” she says. She added that making masks affordable and providing masks in public places and workplaces will help people follow the new guidelines.
Raynard Washington, public health director for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, said it’s important that officials continue to stress that the coronavirus still poses a serious risk to many people.
Still, “streamlined and unified guidance across the respiratory virus portfolio would allow public health at the state and federal level to be on the ground and send a very clear message to people.” ” he said.
This recommendation is for the general public and does not apply to medical settings or nursing homes.
Dr. Washington urged Americans to always consider those around them who may be at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus.
“It’s not like people are holding up signs that say, ‘I’m immunocompromised,'” he says.
