We recently told you that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were planning to change the guidelines for people recovering from COVID infections. At the time, the agency recommended that people self-isolate for five days after COVID, a suggestion that had been in place since the end of 2021.
A New Policy on Self-Isolation After COVID:
The agency has made it official (CDC March 1, 2024). Now it says regardless of whether it was flu, COVID, RSV or some other virus, anyone who feels better and has not taken fever-reducing medicine or had a fever for 24 hours can go back to work or school. The idea is that people are more likely to follow recommendations that are simple and clear. Many people do not know which respiratory virus made them cough or sneeze, so having a single set of guidelines could be helpful.
Air Quality:
The CDC does suggest attention to indoor air quality. This can be achieved by bringing in more fresh air from outside and purifying the air circulating indoors. The CDC also advises people to wear well-fitting masks while they are recovering, especially if they may be in contact with vulnerable individuals such as the elderly or immune-compromised.
Dissenting Views:
Not everyone is thrilled with this decision. Some public health officials not at the CDC are concerned that older people and the immune-suppressed are still at serious risk of catching COVID and dying from it. A spokesperson for the People’s CDC said the decision “sweeps this serious illness under the rug.”
What Will You Do After COVID?
We hope that infected people will stay home to avoid spreading the infection. Unfortunately, paid sick leave is not available to many workers, especially those who may interact with lots of vulnerable people. We’re thinking of hospitality and health care workers, but there are others. Perhaps someday municipalities will require good ventilation in public buildings. That could be the first step in shifting responsibility for staying healthy from individuals to society, which should be better able to manage it.
For more information on how we can face COVID going forward, you may wish to listen to our interview with Dr. Paul Offit.
