The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the recommended isolation time for people with COVID-19 is now reduced from 10 to 5 days for those who are asymptomatic.

The agency said that people who test positive should isolate for 5 (five) days, and if they are asymptomatic, or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter.

 The CDC said 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 one to two days prior to onset of symptoms and the two to three days after."

The recommended quarantine period for those exposed to COVID-19 is also being reduced: For those who are unvaccinated or who are more than six months from their second mRNA dose (or more than two months from a Johnson & Johnson vaccine) and have not yet received a booster, the recommended quarantine period is now five days followed by strict mask use for five days. 

Alternatively, if 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure.

Those who have received a booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure but should wear a mask for 10 days postexposure. 

Best practice for all -- whether vaccinated or unvaccinated -- is to test for SARS-CoV-2 on day 5 after exposure, unless symptoms occur, in which case, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms the symptoms are not related to COVID-19.

The agency also released updated guidance that reduces isolation time after COVID-19 infection for health care workers.

The agency announced that health care workers with COVID-19 who are asymptomatic may return to work after seven days with a negative test, and they say isolation time can be further reduced if there are staffing shortages.

In addition, all health care workers who have received all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including a booster, do not need to quarantine following high-risk exposures.

Doctors Liked to Read More