CDC shortens recommended quarantine period for COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is changing the recommended quarantine time for COVID-positive people and people exposed to COVID-19 amid cases of the Omicron variant.

The CDC now recommends that, instead of quarantining for 10 days, people with COVID-19 quarantine for five days, if asymptomatic, and then wear a mask for the following five days when around others.

This means that those who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for five days and can then leave isolation if they are asymptomatic at the end of those five days.

The CDC also recommends a five-day quarantine followed by five-days of strict mask use for those who are exposed to COVID-19 and fall into one of two categories:

• Are unvaccinated
• Are more than six months out from their second dose (or more than two months out from their J&J vaccine) and have not received a booster dose

If a five-day quarantine is not possible for those exposed to COVID-19, the exposed person is asked to wear a well-fitting mask when around others for 10 days after exposure.

People who have gotten a booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.

The CDC recommends that anyone who is exposed should take a COVID-19 test five days after being exposed.