The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revised its guidelines for people who may have been exposed to COVID-19, according to npr.org.
Instead of the standard 14-day quarantine it has been recommending, the CDC says potential exposure now warrants a quarantine of 10 or seven days, depending on an individual’s test results and symptoms. If individuals do not develop symptoms, they only need to quarantine for 10 days; if they test negative, that period can be reduced to just one week.
Although the CDC says a 14-day quarantine remains the safest option, it acknowledged this length placed difficult demands on people.
“Reducing the length of quarantine may make it easier for people to take this critical public health action by reducing the economic hardship associated with a longer period, especially if they cannot work during that time,” Dr. Henry Walke, the CDC’s incident manager for its COVID-19 response, told reporters during a Dec. 2 conference call. “In addition, a shorter quarantine period can lessen stress on the public health system and communities, especially when new infections are rapidly rising.”
Walke said people still should watch closely for symptoms for a full 14 days after possible exposure.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov.
