![]() If you test positive for COVID-19, the guidance states that you should stay home for at least five days and isolate from others in your home. But the agency says new studies suggest that protocol can miss too many infections, and could result in people spreading the coronavirus to others, especially if they don't develop symptoms. Previously, the FDA had advised taking two rapid antigen tests over two or three days to rule out infection. The new guidance applies to people without symptoms who believe they may have been exposed. It's important to note that if you were exposed to COVID-19, the Food and Drug Administration now recommends you take three home tests instead of two to make sure you’re not infected. Summer-Like Weather to End With Chance of Severe Storms, Rapid Cooldown This WeekendĪccording to the CDC, regardless of if you've been vaccinated, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19. You should also isolate if you are ill or suspect that you have COVID-19 but are waiting on test results. "This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives.” “.We also have a better understanding of how to protect people from being exposed to the virus, like wearing high-quality masks, testing, and improved ventilation," explained Greta Massetti, PhD, the branch chief of the CDC's Field Epidemiology and Prevention Branch. The altered guidance, according to CDC officials, reflects more tools are available to offer protection against severe illness from COVID, including vaccination, boosters and treatment. The revised recommendations, announced Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ease social distancing requirements and no longer encourage Americans to quarantine if they come into close contact with an infected person. Read a summary of the new guidelines, or read a detailed discussion in the August 11 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.New guidelines surrounding COVID protocols have been put into place, with the changes being driven by a recognition that an estimated 95% of Americans 16 and older have acquired some level of immunity, according to federal health officials. ![]() In schools and other settings, the CDC recommends that individuals “at high risk for severe illness can consider avoiding crowded areas and minimizing direct physical contact,” which suggests the onus of responsibility for managing COVID is shifting to individuals, rather than governmental decisions. Most notably, the distancing and testing protocols for schools have been diminished the CDC no longer recommends that schools test students who do not show active COVID-19 infection symptoms. These guidelines represent a significant change from the CDC’s previous stance on the importance of social/physical distancing, which is now less emphasized. Instead, the CDC says you should wear a high-quality mask, get tested on day 5, and then follow standard isolation protocol if it is positive. ![]() However, the updated guidelines suggest that regardless of vaccination status, there is no need for quarantine when exposed to COVID-19. The agency reiterated that getting a vaccine and staying updated with boosters are the key elements that will keep COVID-19 under control in the US population. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has streamlined its COVID-19 guidelines to reflect increasing confidence in the levels of population immunity and the preparedness of the US health apparatus as signs that the acute phase of pandemic is abating.Īs Greta Massetti, PhD, MPH, CDC Branch Chief of Field Epidemiology and Prevention Branch, stated in a news release last week, “This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives.”
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