The infections related to Covid-19 are on the rise, which has led the CDC to announce new guidelines. New guidelines and quarantine rules have been presented on the basis of scientific research. Americans do not have a choice but to abide by these rules.
CDC Recommends New Covid-19 Guidelines
The new guidelines and quarantine norms come in, as the holiday coronavirus surge gets worse in several states. The New Year is all set to make the situation grim.
The average number of daily Covid cases crossed the two-lac mark, which is very high compared to previous data. Johns Hopkins University released the said data.
According to the new guidelines, anyone who tests positive for the virus, no matter what his vaccination status is, can stop quarantine after five days. However, their symptoms should be resolved by that time or already resolved. However, the CDC also urges individuals to continue to wear masks.
The CDC has dictated another guideline, that should make more people happy. Fully vaccinated people or those who have received boosters, do not need to quarantine if they have come in close contact with infected people. But this is if they do not have any symptoms. However, the center also asks such individuals to wear a mask for the next ten days and also get tested on the fifth.
Those who are unvaccinated or got their doses some time back need to quarantine for five days if they come in contact with the infected. The reason is that their immune system may not have developed adequate antibodies. Those who have not received boosters also fall in this category. All the people need to get tested five days after they come into contact with such individuals.
Many people have queries in their minds, regarding these new guidelines. The CDC Director has asked all the people who feel sick to take any of the two tests to determine infection. Rapid antigen test and the RT-PCR test seems to suffice.
The reason given by CDC regarding the reduced quarantine time, tells that the RT-PCR test comes positive even 12 weeks after infection. But people do not transmit the virus around that long. Therefore, this is one of the reasons behind such a decision.
Many people have asked about the efficacy of the Antigen test if at all it is effective. It does not seem to be so. Many people may infect others at five days, and many may not be able to, as well. The CDC says that the antigen test was never developed as a full-proof way to diagnose the virus.
Therefore, everyone should mandatorily follow the mandates like wearing masks and avoiding crowded places for the days to come. CDC Director, Walensky has also said in the latest interviews, that many people are also reluctant to isolate for 10 days at a stretch.
If reports and studies are to be relied on the greatest number of infections occur in the first two days before the symptoms start developing and two to three days afterward. 85%-90% transmissions occur around that time.
Therefore, it does make sense for those who test positive and show lesser symptoms from the fifth day onwards to reduce their quarantine period. This will at least deter people from stepping out when they are at their highest infectious state.
The CDC has also released separate guidelines for healthcare staff. Those who are symptomatic can return to work after seven days. If there are staff shortages, this time may be reduced further. Healthcare workers who have received all three doses do not need to quarantine after exposure These are the guidelines that one ought to follow as of now.
