CDC may shorten 14-day COVID-19 quarantine recommendation

The CDC is considering a revision that would potentially cut its COVID-19 self-quarantine recommendation from 14 days to between seven and 10 days, according to a Nov. 24 Wall Street Journal report. 

The current quarantine recommendation after potential exposure to the coronavirus is 14 days even in cases of a negative test, since symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear.  

Henry Walke, MD, the CDC's COVID-19 incident manager, told WSJ the shortened length would be an effort to get more people to comply. 

"Hopefully, people would be better able to adhere to quarantine if it was, for example, seven to 10 days," Dr. Walke said. 

The potential change would likely include a negative test as an OK to end quarantine. The chance of developing a COVID-19 infection after a negative test within the quarantine period is low, Dr. Walke told WSJ. 

About 50 percent of people who develop a COVID-19 infection show symptoms between five and six days after exposure, Justin Lessler, PhD, epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, told WSJ. 

In countries with few coronavirus cases, the full 14-day quarantine is critical since one missed case could trigger a new outbreak, Dr. Lessler said. 

In a statement to FOX News, a CDC spokesperson said no changes have been finalized. 

More articles on public health:
Relatives of SARS-CoV-2 found in Japan, Cambodia
Biden transition team receives first official COVID-19 response briefing
New York to reopen emergency hospital; CDC urges contact tracers to change strategy — 5 COVID-19 updates

 

 

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