thevaccinereaction--2020-12-15--CDC Shortens COVID-19 Quarantine Period to Seven Days

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) has revised its quarantine guidelines for people who may have been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.1 Since the COVID-19 pandemic declaration last winter , the agency has recommended a 14-day quarantine period that was based on estimates of the upper range of the incubation period for SARS-Cov-2 infection .
An adjustment to that policy was made on Dec. 2 , 2020 when the CDC reduced the quarantine recommendations in an effort to increase community compliance.2 The CDC still maintains that a 14-day quarantine is the safest option after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shown symptoms of COVID-19 , but it now lists shortened alternatives to the 14-day period.3 The agency recommends that a person , who has been in contact with someone known to have COVID-19 , should quarantine , but that the isolation period can end after 10 days without needing a SARS-CoV-2 lab test if no symptoms are experienced .
In addition , if the person , who has been exposed to COVID-19 receives a negative SARS-CoV-2 test , then the quarantine period can end after seven days if no symptoms are experienced.4 Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) said that the shorter quarantine period would make it easier for people to follow the CDC ’ s recommendations , since most people were likely to shorten the 14-day period on their own due to the social and economic burdens of quarantining for several weeks.5 According to Anthony Fauci , MD , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ) , a 14-day quarantine period leads people to be reluctant to get a SARS-CoV-2 test because a positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for two weeks causing economic hardships.7 He stated : They don ’ t want to say , Well , I ’ m tested , and now I have to stay out of work , I may lose money , I ’ m not getting subsidized , and I might even lose my job .
So , it might be that the balance—the better part of this equation—would be to encourage people more to get tested so that they ’ re not out of whatever it is that they need to be , their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of income .
That ’ s the real reason for it.8 Robert Redfield , MD , director of the CDC said that the 14-day quarantine guidelines were made when the SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing was not readily accessible like it is today.9 However , medical professionals have pointed out that the use of PCR ( polymerase chain reaction ) diagnostic testing , which is the most commonly used to test for SARS-CoV-2 , is flawed .
The PCR test is reportedly too sensitive and must be adjusted to eliminate people who have very low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their bodies .
Since the PCR test ’ s threshold is so high , not only does it detect the live virus but the test also detects a few genetic fragments left over from a past infection that no longer poses a risk.10 Michael Mina , MD , PhD , an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health compared it to finding a hair in a room after a person left it.11 People With COVID-19 and Those in Quarantine Allowed to Vote in Person On Nov. 3 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in quarantine or sick with COVID-19 can be allowed to vote in person for the U.S. national elections .
“ Voters have the right to vote , regardless of whether they are sick or in quarantine , ” CDC officials said .
The CDC gave the following advice to voters who are sick with COVID-19 : Voters who are sick or in quarantine should take steps to protect poll workers and other voters .
This includes wearing a mask , staying at least six feet away from others , and washing your hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting .
You should also let poll workers know that you are sick or in quarantine when you arrive at the polling location.12