The isolation time has become a debatable topic for the news agencies in the United States after reducing the quarantine time for the infected asymptomatic patients in the United States. Most of the medical experts in the country have shown a major concern and threat for the citizens and health care workers.
The US CDC Being Criticized For Creating Havoc: New Quarantine Policy
Looking at the past studies conducted by the medical researchers and scientists in the United States on the newly detected strain of Covid-19 and the low severity of Omicron variant, the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, has changed the quarantine and isolation rules and reduced the time span to half.
In general, the CDC has halved the recommended times for isolating oneself from others after a virus attack, more specifically for asymptomatic individuals
Specifically, the CDC has recommended that patients that test positive for Covid-19 should isolate themselves for 5 days and can leave the quarantine area if symptoms do not persist after 5 days and the test reports come negative.
However, the individual should wear a mask for additional 5 days when roaming in public, and getting in contact with others. Also, it must be noted that an individual who came in direct contact with the Covid-19 positive patient also needs to be isolated for a time period of 5 days.
However, the quarantine of 5 days is necessary only in case an individual has symptoms or is unvaccinated. For people who have taken a booster dose of vaccine, the individual can assess and take quarantine if they need to, else they are free to move out with a mask for 10 days.
Now the major debate starts here where public health officials feel that it is nothing but a political influence and the government has been taking this decision by keeping the US CDC as the front face.
Many medical authorities and economists believe that it is politics that has led to CDC making such recommendations rather than economic and scientific proofs.
Also, the rise of confusion is nothing but a major source of miscommunication amongst the infected patients. The individuals must have a clear picture because their life is at risk and politics must be kept out of such important affairs, stated by health care officials.
There is not enough communication regarding the new recommendations and as a result, the medical authorities are struggling to advise people about the new quarantine rules.
Dr. Walensky must take a stand and come out in public and state the major reasons why such actions have been taken and also clear every single doubt related to the isolation time.
The CDC stated that this decision is not politically administered and we have made such changes keeping in mind the economic changes.
Some medical scholars also believe that allowing someone to exit isolation without a negative test result may not be the best for public health and citizens.
