Report: CDC plans to update COVID isolation guidelines
Dr. Barry Rittmann: “I think these new recommendations really have to do with more practicality.”
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - On Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to change its current COVID-19 isolation guidelines in the coming months.
In 2021, the CDC released its current guidance, which recommends that people who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for at least five days.
According to the Washington Post report, the CDC discussed a change in the isolation guidelines during a briefing with state health officials last week, which would outline how long a person should quarantine based on their symptoms.
Under the new proposed approach, people could return to work or school if they are fever-free for 24 hours without help from medicine and their symptoms are mild and improving.
“I think this reporting does place the CDC guidance in alignment with what is performed for and recommended for other respiratory viruses like influenza and RSV,” said Dr. Costi Sifri, director of hospital epidemiology at UVA Health. “We’ve seen that some other states have already moved in that way. I think like, California and Oregon have already put out similar guidance, and the CDC appears to be following suit.”
The proposed change comes as COVID cases drop following a peak reported at the start of the new year.
“There definitely has been another surge over the winter, especially around the beginning of January,” said Dr. Barry Rittmann, an associate hospital epidemiologist at VCU Health. “The numbers have been coming back down since then over the past month or so.”
Dr. Rittmann believes these new potential recommendations have to do with “more practicality more than anything else.”
“I think a lot of it has to do with trying to be practical, trying to come up with solutions that small businesses and other entities can follow,” he told 12 On Your Side.
The report also states the potential guidelines would not apply to hospitals and other healthcare settings, but guidance for masking is still unclear.
As discussions continue over quarantine, Dr. Sifri urges people to take all the necessary steps to protect themselves and others while recovering.
“I think it’s still important to understand that you still may be able to shed virus that can infect other people during that period of time when you have recovered from infection,” said Dr. Sifri. “I hope the CDC guidance does tell people to continue to mask for the full 10 days after the onset of their symptoms.”
12 On Your Side also contacted the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts, but they declined to comment since any new guidance has yet to become official.
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