CDC Shortens Quarantine Time For People Who Have COVID Or Been Exposed

On December 27, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it had reduced the number of days that people who have tested positive for COVID-19 must remain in isolation. The CDC also changed its guidance for people who have been exposed to the virus. Specifically, the agency:

• Reduced its recommended isolation time for people infected with COVID-19 from 10 to five days, as long as they are showing no symptoms. The change applies to everyone, regardless of vaccination status. After the five days is up, people recovering from COVID-19 should wear a mask around other people at all times for an additional five days.
• Shortened the recommended quarantine time from 10 to five days for people who are exposed to someone with COVID-19 but who are unvaccinated or vaccinated but have not received their booster shot.
• Confirmed that people who are fully vaccinated and have had a booster shot do not need to quarantine after an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days.

The CDC said the change was necessary because science shows that the majority of virus transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the first two days prior to onset of symptoms, and the two to three days after. Read more here.