CDC director explains new Covid-19 guidance and discusses background to decisions

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Wed, 2021-12-29 19:00 — mike kraft

(CNN) Sweeping new Covid-19 isolation and quarantine guidelines were spurred by scientific research and what Americans would likely tolerate, the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

They come as doctors expect the holiday coronavirus surge, driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant, to get worse following New Year's Eve. The average number of daily US Covid-19 cases on Tuesday reached 265,427 -- a new pandemic high, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

In guidance issued this week, the CDC said:

• Anyone who tests positive for Covid-19, regardless of vaccination status, can stop isolating after five days if they don't have symptoms or if their "symptoms are resolving" -- as long as they also wear a mask around others for the next five days. (Previously, the CDC recommended anyone with Covid-19 isolate for 10 days.)

• Recently fully vaccinated or boosted people who were exposed to someone with Covid-19 don't need to quarantine, as long as they don't get symptoms. (But they should wear a mask around others for 10 days and try to get tested five days after exposure.)

• Unvaccinated people and those who got shots some time ago and were exposed to someone with Covid-19 need to quarantine for five days after exposure. This covers people who got their last dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine more than six months ago and haven't been boosted; or got just one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than two months ago and haven't been boosted. (Everyone in this category, too, should try to get tested five days after exposure and wear a mask around others for the next five days.)

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