Author: Erica Edwards – nbc news
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday lifted its recommendation for a five-day quarantine for people who test positive for the coronavirus.
The new CDC guidance is consistent with public health recommendations for influenza and other respiratory illnesses: Stay home when you are sick, but return to school or work when you feel better and have been fever-free for 24 hours.
The change reflects a continued decline in the most severe COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in spring 2020, as well as an implicit recognition that many people are not even getting tested despite experiencing symptoms.
“People often don’t know what they have when they first get sick, so this will help them know what to do in any situation,” CDC Director Mandy Cohen said at a news conference Friday. “
Number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 each week over the past two years Reduced by more than 75%Cohen added that deaths have dropped by more than 90%.
“To put it another way, in 2021, COVID-19 is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Last year, it was the 10th,” said Brendan Jackson, chief of the respiratory virus response at the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Dr. said at a press conference.
Many doctors have been urging the CDC to lift quarantine guidelines for months, saying they have done little to stop the spread of the virus.
The experience of California and Oregon, which have previously lifted coronavirus quarantine guidelines, shows this to be the case.
“Recent data shows that California and Oregon, where quarantine guidance is most similar to the latest CDC recommendations, are not seeing an increase in COVID-19 emergency room visits or hospitalizations,” Jackson said.
For Dr. David Margolius, director of public health for the city of Cleveland, it makes sense to change quarantine measures for COVID-19 instead of those for influenza and other respiratory illnesses.
(They warn of rising flu and COVID-19 cases in U.S.)
“We’ve reached a point where influenza rates are higher than COVID-19,” he said. “What these guidelines do is help reinforce this: No matter what contagious respiratory viral infection you have, stay home when you’re sick , I will come back when I feel better.”
Dr. Christine Englander, an infectious disease specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, said the new approach would be beneficial in slowing the spread of all respiratory viruses. “I think this will help us reduce the number of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus cases over the next few years, not just coronavirus.”
Still, the decision may have drawn criticism from some doctors, who noted that in the U.S. 17,310 new hospitalizations for COVID-19 will be recorded Only last week.
“This is likely to generate a wide range of opinions and possibly even some conflicting opinions,” said Dr. Faisal Khan, Seattle’s director of public health. “But (the CDC’s) reasoning is sound, which is that the pandemic is at a very different stage now than it will be in 2021, 2022 or 2023.”
Although quarantine guidelines have been lifted, the CDC still recommends people take precautions within five days of feeling better. This includes wearing masks around vulnerable people and opening windows to improve indoor fresh air circulation.
Most spread of the virus occurs when people are most sick. “As time goes by, the virus is spreading less and less.”Cohen said.
People who are at higher risk for serious complications from the coronavirus, such as older adults, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women, may need to take extra precautions.
Dr. Katie Passaretti, chief epidemiologist at Atrium Health in Charlotte, noted that this is a “trend in a positive direction.”
He added: “We will continue to study the world after COVID-19 because it is one of many respiratory viruses that spreads safely.”
(Reports suggest CDC is considering changes to its COVID-19 isolation guidance)
These new guidelines only apply to the general public and do not include guidance on isolation in hospital settings, which is generally 10 days.
On Wednesday, the agency reported that adults 65 and older should get a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine this spring. The country is expected to see a resurgence of the disease in late summer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the coronavirus has surged in the winter and summer over the past four years, with peak cases in January and August, respectively.
Another reformulated vaccine is expected to be available and recommended this fall.
Important advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the spread of coronavirus:
- If possible, get the COVID-19 vaccine. Cohen said 95% of people hospitalized with the virus last winter were not up to date on their vaccinations.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes and wash your hands frequently.
- Increase ventilation by opening windows, using an air purifier, and gathering outdoors when possible.