THE Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. on Tuesday said it was still reviewing the new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on shortening the recommended isolation time for asymptomatic cases of Covid-19 to five days.
Previously, the CDC-recommended isolation time for asymptomatic cases of Covid-19 was 10 days.
The CDC now also recommends that the five-day isolation time for asymptomatic individuals be followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others.
In addition, the CDC is recommending that the quarantine period for individuals exposed to Covid-19 also be for five days followed by strict mask use for an additional five days.
This applies to individuals who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second dose of two-dose Covid-19 vaccine series, or more than two months after receiving the single-dose Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, and have yet to receive a booster dose.
The CDC said if a five-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 on day five after exposure, the CDC noted.
However, if symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to Covid-19.
Quarantine refers to the time following exposure to the virus or close contact with someone known to have Covid-19.
The CDC made the announcement as the Omicron variant continues to spread throughout the U.S.
