Covid-19 patients no longer mandated to isolate for five days- CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared that individuals testing positive for Covid-19 are no longer mandated to isolate for five days.

The new guidance aligns with public health advice for other respiratory illnesses, urging individuals to stay home when sick and return to regular activities once symptoms have subsided, and there has been a 24-hour period without fever.

CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen explained during a media briefing that the change reflects sustained declines in severe Covid outcomes since the pandemic’s onset and recognizes that many individuals do not promptly test themselves for Covid.

Dr. Brendan Jackson, Head of Respiratory Virus Response at the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, emphasized the substantial decrease in weekly hospital admissions and deaths related to Covid over the past couple of years.

While acknowledging potential criticism, especially amid recent Covid hospitalizations, the CDC’s rationale focuses on the current phase of the pandemic, which differs significantly from previous years.

Despite lifting isolation guidelines, the CDC encourages individuals to exercise caution for five days post-recovery, including wearing masks around vulnerable individuals and improving indoor ventilation.

Dr. Faisal Khan, Seattle’s Director of Public Health, acknowledged that opinions on the new guidance might vary but highlighted the sound rationale provided by the CDC, considering the pandemic’s evolving phase.

The CDC’s guidelines for the general public exclude isolation recommendations in hospital settings, which typically entail a 10-day period.

The agency recently recommended booster shots for adults aged 65 and older, anticipating a potential increase in cases later this summer. The CDC emphasized the importance of Covid vaccination, personal hygiene practices, and ventilation measures to reduce the spread of the virus.