Because COVID-19 is no longer the widespread public health emergency it was in years past, public health officials at both the state and Los Angeles County levels are encouraging individuals to isolate from others after infection. Relaxed guidance on the required period.
Both agencies note that previous guidelines were implemented to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. However, most policies currently focus on protecting those at highest risk of severe disease while reducing social disruption.
Here's what you need to know about the new guidelines.
How long should I stay at home?
Under guidelines revised this month, California state and county public health officials now require people who test positive to isolate and stay home only while symptoms of COVID-19 are ongoing. It is said that there is. People who test positive but remain asymptomatic do not need to do so.
People who develop symptoms such as a cough or body aches can end their isolation period if their symptoms improve slightly, as long as they do not take medication and do not have a fever for 24 hours.
Los Angeles County health officials remain strong Recommendation to If an infected person wishes to leave isolation within 10 days of developing symptoms of COVID-19, they must obtain a negative result from a rapid test, or, if asymptomatic, a positive result from the first test. A negative test is not required after 11 days after symptoms began or if the first test was positive.
Previous guidelines said infected people should remain at home for at least five days.
“Previous quarantine recommendations were implemented to reduce the spread of a virus for which the population has little immunity and which has led to numerous hospitalizations and deaths that have overwhelmed health care systems during the pandemic,” the California Department of Public Health said. announced. statement.
“We are now at a different point in time, where the impact of COVID-19 is less severe than in previous years due to widespread immunity through vaccination and natural infection, and treatments readily available to those infected.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance last spring. still It recommends that you isolate for at least five days after you start showing symptoms or, if you have no symptoms, after your first positive test.
Regardless of symptoms or isolation, health experts recommend that people infected with COVID-19 stay away from people who are at high risk for severe illness for 10 days.
What about masking?
Officials say people infected with the coronavirus must wear a mask around others for 10 days after they develop symptoms or, if they are asymptomatic, for 10 days after their first positive test. It has said.
Infected people can stop wearing masks sooner if they receive negative results from two consecutive rapid tests taken at least one day apart.
Should I seek medicine?
People infected with COVID-19 should talk to their health care provider as soon as possible to see if they are eligible for treatment, including prescribing paxlobid or other antiviral medications.
“Similar to COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, [respiratory syncytial virus] Infections continue to be prevalent in Los Angeles County, and residents continue to be at increased risk of being exposed to respiratory infections or exposing others to respiratory infections,'' the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement. statement Friday.
“People can take common-sense precautions to protect themselves and those around them from respiratory illnesses, including getting vaccinated, staying home if sick, and getting tested and treated. It is encouraged.”
When should I test?
The change in guidance comes after some health officials have noted apparent delays in the time it takes to get accurate results using rapid home tests. Some experts have hypothesized that this delay is the result of people building up immunity to COVID-19 over a long period of time, whether due to vaccination or previous infection over many years. .
The CDC still recommends getting tested immediately if you have symptoms of COVID-19, and experts note that positive results from rapid at-home tests are usually reliable.
However, because it takes several days for the virus to multiply in detectable amounts, negative results, especially from early tests, may not be as accurate.
If you test negative but have symptoms of coronavirus, the CDC recommends retesting after 48 hours. And officials say people should stay home and stay away from others during that time, or wear a mask if they have to be around others.
Rapid home coronavirus tests typically detect coronavirus infection at least 80% of the time, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
