CDC Shortens COVID Quarantine & Isolation Times For General Public

 

#16,460

The primary reason for strict quarantine and isolation policies is to keep those who may be contagious from spreading the virus to others, particularly when the incidence in the community is low.  Staying home helps break the chains of infection - but it can lead to other societal problems - including high levels of absenteeism. 

When the virus is already circulating at very high levels in the community - as we expect to see with Omicron - the usefulness of these protocols declines.

The dilemma facing the CDC is that Omicron is so contagious that - under the existing rules - it will force millions of people to be off work for at least 10 days, even if they are no longer contagious.  The impact on essential services, as well as on the general economy, could be enormous. 

Last week - in the face of increasing staff shortages in hospitals around the country - the CDC Released Emergency Guidance for Healthcare Facilities to Prepare for Potential Omicron Surge, which shortened quarantine times for Healthcare Workers. 

Under less dire circumstances, I'm certain that the CDC would prefer keeping the old rules, but that is a luxury that society probably can't afford in the weeks and months ahead.  Not if we hope to keep healthcare delivery services operating. 

Yesterday the CDC shortened Isolation and Quarantine times for the rest of the general population, in hopes of lessening Omicron's impact on the functioning of society.  Again, not ideal.  But the benefits of longer quarantine and isolation times - when the virus is already rife in society - no longer justify the costs. 

This from the CDC, after which I'll have a postscript. 

CDC Updates and Shortens Recommended Isolation and Quarantine Period for General Population

Media Statement

For Immediate Release: Monday, December 27, 2021

Contact: Media Relations

(404) 639-3286

Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others. The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after. Therefore, people who test positive should isolate for 5 days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others.

Additionally, CDC is updating the recommended quarantine period for those exposed to COVID-19. For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. Alternatively, if a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure. Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.

Isolation relates to behavior after a confirmed infection. Isolation for 5 days followed by wearing a well-fitting mask will minimize the risk of spreading the virus to others. Quarantine refers to the time following exposure to the virus or close contact with someone known to have COVID-19. Both updates come as the Omicron variant continues to spread throughout the U.S. and reflects the current science on when and for how long a person is maximally infectious.

Data from South Africa and the United Kingdom demonstrate that vaccine effectiveness against infection for two doses of an mRNA vaccine is approximately 35%. A COVID-19 vaccine booster dose restores vaccine effectiveness against infection to 75%. COVID-19 vaccination decreases the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. CDC strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 5 and older and boosters for everyone 16 and older. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our communities.

The following is attributable to CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky:

“The Omicron variant is spreading quickly and has the potential to impact all facets of our society. CDC’s updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses. These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives. Prevention is our best option: get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial and high community transmission, and take a test before you gather.”

In a pandemic, you do what you reasonably can to mitigate its impact, but in the end it is the virus that calls the shots. While it is hoped that Omicron will prove to be a milder virus - it is expected to generate the largest and steepest wave of infection to date - and those impacts could be enormous. 

None of this is to say we should let our guard down, surrender to the virus, and accept our fate.   

We still need to do what we can to limit the size of this next wave, in order to protect healthcare delivery systems and to limit the damage done to individuals by this virus.  Omicron may be milder, but it isn't benign.  

And Omicron's role in producing `Long COVID' has yet to be quantified. 

So getting vaccinated (and boosted when eligible), wearing face masks in public, and staying home when you are sick, all remain important tools to reduce this next wave's expected impact.