CDC plans to drop five-day covid isolation guidelines. The new guidance, which could be announced as early as April, signals a significant shift from the agency’s previous stance, as first reported by the Washington Post.
Under the proposed change, which was first reported by the Washington Post and hasn't yet been confirmed by the CDC, people would no longer be expected to isolate themselves for five days. Instead, they would be allowed to return to their normal schedules once they’ve been free of fever for at least 24 hours without taking medication. This is similar to recommendations for other respiratory viruses such as influenza and RSV.
With the COVID-19 pandemic in its fourth year, (Over three underJoe) the proposed changes to the isolation guidelines are an attempt to manage a public health issue that is no longer considered an emergency. That said, experts are quick to point out that COVID continues to be a health concern, particularly for vulnerable populations.