Expert advice to avoid the impact of the omicron variant 8:47
(CNN) -
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shortened the recommended isolation times for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. 19 for 10 to five days if they have no symptoms, and if they wear a mask while with other people for at least five more days.
The CDC also shortened the recommended quarantine time for people exposed to the virus to five days if they are vaccinated and, with few exceptions, to no time if they have a booster vaccine.
Minute by minute: the latest news about the coronavirus and the omicron variant
"Given what we currently know about covid-19 and the omicron variant, the CDC is shortening the recommended isolation time from 10 days for people with covid-19 to 5 days, if they are asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around other people, "the CDC said in a statement.
People whose symptoms are improving can also leave their homes after five days as long as they continue to improve, the CDC said.
People with a fever should stay home until the fever is gone, the CDC added.
"The change is motivated by science showing that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the disease course, usually within the 1-2 days prior to the onset of symptoms and the 2 -3 days later. Therefore, people who test positive should be isolated for 5 days and, if they are asymptomatic at that time, they can leave the isolation if they can continue to wear a mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others ".
Quarantine refers to how long people stay away from others if they are exposed to a disease but are not yet testing positive or showing symptoms.
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(Credit: Spencer Platt / Getty Images)
The CDC also changed those recommendations.
"For people who are not vaccinated or who are more than six months after their second dose of mRNA (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and who do not yet have a booster dose, the CDC now recommends the quarantine for 5 days, followed by strict mask use for another 5 days, "he said.
"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 in close proximity to others, for 10 days after exposure."
Expert advice to avoid the impact of the omicron variant 8:47
Quarantine and booster doses
People vaccinated and boosted are typically exempt from quarantine, the CDC said.
"People who have received the booster vaccine do not need to be quarantined after 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 on the fifth day of exposure. If symptoms occur, people should be quarantined immediately until a negative test confirms that the symptoms cannot be attributed to COVID-19. "
Boosters greatly reduce the risk of someone getting infected and passing the virus to another person, the CDC said.
"Data from South Africa and the United Kingdom show that the efficacy of the infection vaccine for two doses of an mRNA vaccine is approximately 35%. A booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine restores the efficacy of the vaccine against infection up to 75%, "he said.
"The omicron variant is spreading rapidly and has the potential to impact all aspects of our society," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.
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"Updated CDC 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 that people can safely continue their daily lives. Prevention is our best option: get vaccinated, reinforce ourselves, wear a mask in closed public places in areas of high and considerable community transmission, and get tested before meeting. "
Everyone who can get vaccinated should, stresses the CDC.
"Vaccination against covid-19 reduces the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death from this disease. CDC strongly recommends vaccination against covid-19 for all people 5 years and older and booster doses for all people from the age of 16. Vaccination is the best way to protect ourselves and reduce the impact of covid-19 in our communities.
Fauci says the CDC's decision is "very prudent"
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday that the changes proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to its guidance on isolation for COVID-19 are a good idea.
"I think it was a very prudent and wise decision on the part of the CDC, which we have spent a lot of time discussing, namely getting people back to the workplace in half the time, doing things that are important to them. keep society running smoothly, "Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN's Jim Acosta.
"We want people to return to their jobs, especially the essential ones, so that society continues to function smoothly," Fauci added.
Last week, the CDC updated its guidance for healthcare workers with COVID-19 who show no symptoms or have mild symptoms to say they can return to work after seven days if they test negative for infection at that time.
Previously, people exposed to COVID-19 but who had not tested positive were advised to self-quarantine for 14 days.
People who tested positive for COVID-19 were advised to isolate themselves for a full 10 days.
Children and adolescents are less likely to need boosters from covid-19 vaccines, Fauci says.
Why?
One way to help curb the spread of COVID-19 is to conduct more tests, but these are still difficult to come by in the US, Fauci said, although the situation will improve soon.
"We don't have enough evidence at this time [...] for evidence to be available; that will change considerably when we get to January," Fauci said.
The Biden administration has promised that it will make available 500 million tests in the first two weeks of January and between 200 and 500 million tests a month in the following months.
"It would be great if we had it right now, but unfortunately we don't have it," Fauci said.
What the country does have at the moment are vaccines.
Fauci encouraged everyone to get vaccinated, including children:
"I appeal to parents that if their child is five years old or older, they should be vaccinated not only for their own safety, because it is seen that there are many more infections in children, some of which lead to hospitalizations. And that's one of the things we don't want to happen, "Fauci said.
"You don't want them to spread to each other and to each other, so it's really important that children get vaccinated."
- Jen Christensen contributed to this report.
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