new cases of COVID-19
With new cases of COVID-19 soaring to more than 2,000 a day in the U.S., numerous people are facing the same situation. A friend or family member tests positive or is exposed to someone who did. The vacation gathering, visit camping, or return to work is just days or hours away. Now what?
New CDC Guidelines for Isolation and Quarantine
>>>>>New guidance issued by the CDC shortens the recommended isolation and quarantine period for the general population after the agency docked the isolation period for healthcare workers. WebMD contacted two infectious disease specialists to answer common questions in these situations.
What to Do If You Test Positive for COVID-19
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you are infected. “Currently, you’re either symptomatically infected or pre-symptomatically infected,” says Paula Offit, the Medical Director of the Vaccine Education Center and a professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. According to the new CDC guidance, you must isolate for five days (reduced from 10 days). Isolation means separating the infected person from others.
Quarantine Guidelines Following Exposure
Quarantine refers to the steps you should take if you’re exposed to the virus or have close contact with COVID-19. Under the new CDC guidelines, after the 5-day isolation period, if the infected person has no symptoms, they can leave isolation and wear a mask for five days. Those who test positive need to inform their close contacts, says Amesh Adalja, an M.D. and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Rationale Behind Shortened Quarantine Times
>>>>>The CDC’s decision to shorten quarantine times is based on evidence showing that most SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs before and during the early stages of illness, usually in the 1-2 days before symptoms start and the 2-3 days after.
What to Do If You Are Exposed to Someone With COVID-19
If exposed to COVID-19, the guidance varies depending on vaccination status:
Vaccinated and Boosted: No need to quarantine but wear a well-fitting mask around others for ten days after exposure.
Unvaccinated or Partially Vaccinated: Quarantine for five days and wear a mask for the following five days.
Practical Alternatives to Quarantine
>>>>>For those vaccinated but not boosted, Adalja and Offit suggest they might skip quarantine and wear a mask for ten days. Offit advises those who cannot fully quarantine to wear a mask for ten days indoors. The CDC also offers an alternative: if a 5-day quarantine isn’t feasible, wear a mask for ten days around others.
When to Get Tested After Exposure
“After exposure, you should wait 2-3 days to test,” Offit says. The virus requires time to replicate itself. Adalja recommends at least one test for exposed individuals, with daily testing being ideal but not yet part of CDC guidance. Home tests are sufficient for this purpose.
When Is It Safe for an Infected Individual to Mingle?
>>>>>If asymptomatic, the infected individual can safely mingle without a mask after ten days or with a mask after five days. This determination can also be guided by a negative home test.
