The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention have dramatically shortened the recommended isolation and quarantine periods for COVID-19. (Here's concerning context for those new recommendations.) The new guidelines:
If you test positive for COVID-19, no matter whether you're vaccinated or not, you should:
– Stay home for 5 days.
-If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house.
-Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.
If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you've been boosted, completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines within the last six months, or had your single initial J&J shot within the last two months, you should:
-Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
-Test on day 5, if possible.
If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home.
If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you haven't been boosted but you have completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines over six months ago, or had your primary initial J&J shot over two months ago, you should:
Stay home for 5 days.
After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
If you can't quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days.
Test on day 5 if possible.
If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home.
Image: President Nixon visits the Apollo 11 crew in quarantine after they returned from the Moon in 1969 (NASA)
