CDC’s new 2024 guidance on wearing masks and COVID isolation

Most recently in February, a positive signal quick check which means five days of isolation, no work, schooland/or other obligations related to being out in public. Not anymore. In March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its COVID quarantine guidance based on symptoms, not time since a positive test.

The guidelines have changed in part to align with guidelines for other common respiratory viral illnesses, including flu And respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The CDC now says you’re allowed continue to operate normally when both of the following are true for at least 24 hours:

• Overall your symptoms are getting better
• You do not have a fever (and are not taking fever-reducing medication)

Bottom line: If you are sick, stay home. If your symptoms persist, you may end up having to quarantine for five days or more, but you’ll be doing your part to protect loved ones, coworkers, and others in the community. your from infection.

If you absolutely cannot stay home when you are sick, remember to wear a mask, says Dr. Robert Hopkins Jr.medical director of National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).

“Those who have symptoms of respiratory viruses—cough, sneezing, body aches, stuffy nose with or without fever—should be tested for COVID-19—and flu when the flu is spreading in their community,” Hopkins said Luck via email. “If the test is positive, call a health care professional who can prescribe it antiviral drugs to help reduce symptoms and the risk of serious illness.”

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir), oral medication COVID antiviral drugs produced by Pfizerreduces the risk of hospitalization by more than half and the risk of death by 75%, according to the CDC. The agency looks at people with conditions such as asthma, diabetes or obesity In high risk of serious infectionand is therefore a candidate for Paxlovid. Ask your doctor if this or another antiviral treatment is right for you.

Take precautions for 5 days after COVID symptoms subside

That more than 98% of the US population has some Immunity to Covid comes through vaccination and/or prior infection is another reason why the CDC chose to continue with the waiver Recommended 5-day quarantine. However, the agency encourages people recovering from coronavirus to adhere to the five-day prevention period after their “stay-at-home” period ends.

You are most contagious in the few days before and after symptoms appear, but you can infect others after symptoms subside and you resume your normal activities. The following is part of CDC’s strategy to minimize the spread of illness after infection:

• Keep your distance from others
• Wear a well-fitting mask cover your mouth and nose
• Practice good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands frequently, and Clean frequently touched surfaces
• Take steps for cleaner airsuch as bringing in fresher air from outside, purifying indoor air or gather outdoors

The new guidelines reflect “the progress we have made in protecting against severe illness from COVID-19,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in one March newsletter. “However, we must still use common sense solutions that we know are effective to protect ourselves and others from serious illness from respiratory viruses — this includes vaccination, treatment and staying home when we are sick.”

Fewer than 1 in 5 adults plan to wear a mask in the fall and winter

According to a report, whether there are updated quarantine guidelines or not, very few adults in the US plan to wear masks this fall and winter. NFID survey was released on Wednesday.

Fewer than one in five (19%) said they would wear a mask in a hospital, pharmacy or doctor’s office, while nearly half (49%) said they would only wear a mask in care facilities. health care if required.

Although you can get respiratory illnesses including COVID any time of year, the United States is entering respiratory virus season. The actions you do—or don’t—take to protect your own health and the health of those around you there are consequences, Dr. Reed Tucksonco-founder of Black Coalition Against COVIDsaid in a NFID press conference Wednesday.

“Concerned about whether what you might do might cause illness or hurt someone else, there’s a moral and ethical issue here,” Tuckson said. “Some of us want to be the hero and the egg girl: ‘I’m sick as a dog and I go to work anyway, and that shows you how tough I am.’

“As opposed to the other narrative which is, ‘Let me tell you how rude I am and how willing I am to infect other people just to show you what a big ego I am. .’ Which side of that equation do you want to be on?”

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