CDC Shortens COVID-19 Quarantine Period to 7-10 Days

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced two shorter quarantine options. The quarantine period is now reduced to 7-10 days, along with certain conditions.

The agency hopes that shortening the 14-day quarantine period increases overall compliance, and improves public health and economic conditions. The agency has advised the public to postpone their winter travel. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the agency suggests, staying home is a healthy alternative.

‘People can quarantine themselves for 10 days without a COVID-19 test if they are asymptomatic. Another option to shorten the quarantine period is: quarantine period for 7 days along with a negative test and no symptoms. CDC recommends a PCR or an antigen assay within 48 hours before the end of the quarantine period. ’

Henry Walke, MD, MPH, the CDC's COVID-19 incident manager, during a media briefing on Wednesday said" These shorter quarantine options do not replace initial CDC guidance.CDC continues to recommend quarantining for 14 days as the best way to reduce the risk for spreading COVID-19. However, after reviewing and analyzing new research and data, CDC has identified two acceptable alternative quarantine periods."

People can quarantine themselves for 10 days without a COVID-19 test if they are asymptomatic. Another option to shorten the quarantine period is: quarantine period for 7 days along with a negative test and no symptoms. CDC recommends a PCR or an antigen assay within 48 hours before the end of the quarantine period.

Walke said," 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. In addition, a shorter quarantine period can lessen stress on the public health system and communities, especially when new infections are rapidly rising. The federal guidance leaves flexibility for local jurisdictions to make their own quarantine recommendations."

Risk Calculation in Shortening the Quarantine Period "Multiple studies point in the same direction, which is that we can safely reduce the length of quarantine but accept there is a small residual risk that a person who is leaving quarantine early could transmit to someone else. ", said John Brooks, MD, chief medical officer for the CDC's COVID-19 response.

The risk involved when people quarantine themselves for 10 days lies in between 1% -10 %. A 7 day quarantine involves a risk about 5% - 12 %.

Brooks added," Ten days is where the risk got into a sweet spot we like, at about 1%.That is a very acceptable risk, I think, for many people. Although it remains unknown what proportion of people spending 14 days in quarantine leave early, we are hearing anecdotally from our partners in public health that many people are discontinuing quarantine ahead of time because there is pressure to go back to work, to get people back into school - and it imposes a burden on the individual. One of our hopes is that, if we reduce the amount of time they have to spend in quarantine, people will be more compliant"

A reporter questioned about the reason for shortening the quarantine period, to which Brooks replied,"The timing has to do with capacity. We are in a situation where the number of cases is rising, the number of contacts is rising and the number of people who require quarantine is rising. That is a lot of burden, not just on the people who have to quarantine, but on public health."

Stay Home, Stay Safe - The Vacation Mantra

CDC recommends people to avoid traveling during the upcoming winter holidays. "The best way to protect yourself and others is to postpone travel and stay home," said Walke .

If people go out for vacations, CDC recommends testing 1 to 3 days prior to travel and again 3 to 5 days after it. It also recommends reducing non-essential activities for at least 7 days after returning home. Further, if someone does will get a follow up testing after returning from vacation, the person has to have a strict quarantine period of at least 10 days.

Walke said, " Testing does not eliminate all risk, but when combined with reducing non-essential activities, symptom screening and continuing with precautions like wearing masks, social distancing and hand washing, it can make travel safer."

The CDC officials commented they are trying to reduce the number of infections by recommending people to postpone their winter travel.



Source: Medindia