ATLANTA, GA – March 1, 2024 – On March 1st, the CDC announced updated COVID-19 isolation guidelines to begin immediately. The health agency recommends that persons who test positive for COVID no longer have to isolate for 5 days. The recommendations are intended for the general population and not for health care facilities and settings with more at-risk groups. This is the first time that the agency has changed their isolation recommendations since 2021.
The new guidelines recommend that people who test positive for COVID should isolate at home until they have been without a fever for at least 24 hours without taking any fever-reducing medication like acetaminophen or aspirin AND that their symptoms are improving. After the isolation period is over, the CDC recommends preventive measures for 5 days. They include wearing a well-fitting face mask, keeping a distance away from others, washing or sanitizing hands frequently, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and improving ventilation by opening windows or through air purification of indoor air.
The new recommendations are the same as for other common respiratory virus infections like the flu and RSV. They are designed to be simple, clear and easier to follow.
The relaxed guidelines are consistent with measures taken by other countries, like Britain, Australia, France, and Canada, without any noteworthy changes in the spread of COVID. California and Oregon have already loosened their recommendations earlier this year.
So much has happened since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020:
- New COVID infections have a lower frequency of severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths.
- There is now treatment available for at-risk people.
- Most American has acquired some immunity to COVID-19 from prior infection, immunization, or both.
David Margolis, Cleveland’s Director of Public Health, opined, “Simplifying the public health messaging to treat all of these dangerous respiratory viruses the same makes a lot of sense.” He added, “When you’re sick, stay home until you feel better.”
Listen to the full report below:
Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, healthyasheville@ashevillefm.org