The CDC shortened the recommended lengths that people should isolate when they’ve tested positive for Covid-19, the organization announced on Monday.
The new recommendation is those who test positive for Covid-19 isolate for five days instead of 10 days if they don’t have symptoms – and if they wear a mask around others for at least five more days.
Another new recommendation is that those exposed to the virus quarantine for five days if they are vaccinated and to no time if they are boosted.
“Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others,” the CDC said in a statement.
The reason for the change is because science suggests that the transmission occurs within the first couple days.
“The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after. Therefore, people who test positive should isolate for 5 days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others.”