CDC Loosens COVID-19 Restrictions

It looks like COVID-19 is here to stay, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is acknowledging it by loosening its restrictions.

The most noticeable change is the removal of its quarantine recommendation — individuals are no
longer advised to quarantine following close contact exposure to COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status, in instances where they do not experience symptoms or test positive for the disease.

The CDC stresses these points:

• Instead of quarantining, individuals exposed to COVID-19 should wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day five.
• The isolation-related recommendations for individuals who test positive or have COVID symptoms largely remain the same. Regardless of vaccination status, individuals should isolate from others when they test positive (for at least five days based upon individual risk category) and should wear a high-quality mask for at least 10 days. Also, if an employee has symptoms, they should get tested and isolate while they are awaiting test results. If the results are negative, isolation can end.
• Individuals who are immunocompromised or had a moderate or severe COVID illness (evidenced by difficulty breathing or hospitalization) should isolate for 10 days or potentially even longer, based on the advice they receive from healthcare providers.
• An individual should restart the isolation period if the COVID symptoms worsen or reappear, even if their initial isolation period has ended.
• Screening performed via testing of asymptomatic people without known exposures will no longer be recommended in most community settings, including all non-healthcare workplaces.

To update policies, cities may wish to remove quarantine periods for employees with close contact exposure but no symptoms. Cities that wish to be more (or less restrictive) than CDC or Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidance should consult their city attorney prior to implementing such a policy.

Additional references:

MDH - What to Do if You Have Had Close Contact with a Person with COVID-19

MDH - Close Contacts and Quarantine: COVID-19

CDC - Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19

 

Submitted by: Julie Jelen, Loss Control Consultant