Summarised by Centrist
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken a significant step in adjusting public health guidelines to signal a shift towards treating COVID more like the flu and other circulating respiratory illnesses.
In a recent announcement, the CDC released a new “respiratory virus guide,” unifying the approach to managing respiratory viruses, including COVID, influenza, RSV, and others (but excluding measles).
A key change in the updated guidance is the elimination of the previous five-day isolation recommendation for those infected with COVID. The CDC now advises that individuals with respiratory symptoms should stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after their fever resolves and their overall symptoms improve. This approach aligns more closely with the isolation guidance for other respiratory illnesses.
The CDC acknowledges a “residual risk” of SARS-CoV-2 transmission with these updated guidelines, but still suggests additional interventions, such as masking and distancing, for five days post-isolation.
