The CDC released updated guidelines on COVID-19 infections on Friday and has dropped its five-day quarantine guidance.
The change comes as case numbers continue to decline nationwide. The agency reported only 17,310 hospitalizations in the United States from February 18 through February 24. CNN reported that the organization changed its guidelines to match other respiratory illness guidance.
“Today’s announcement reflects the progress we’ve made in protecting against severe illness from COVID,” CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen said. “We’re in a different situation, but we must use the tools that work to protect against respiratory virus. That’s why our updated guidance emphasizes some core prevention actions to protect against severe illness.”
The CDC recommends that people who test positive for COVID-19 avoid others until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever and are not taking medication.
The five-day quarantine period was one of numerous guidelines the CDC recommended during the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Many viewed the quarantine as unnecessary and an overstep by the government, while some medical professionals claimed the quarantine period was inadequate.
Research conducted by JAMA Network Open and reported by SELF indicates that during the BA.1 Omicron surge in November 2022, 80% of people continued to test positive for the virus five days after their initial positive test. Many people had no symptoms, and medical professionals could not determine if the positive tests indicated a person was contagious.
The CDC explained that the relaxation of its guidelines follows evidence from other countries that have also dropped lockdown measures and have not seen a surge in infections. The agency pointed out that high-risk individuals should stay current on vaccine boosters and anticipate an updated variant in the spring.
Still, a 2023 study conducted by analyzing data from California’s prison population indicated there was a likelihood that vaccinated individuals stood a greater chance of becoming infected than unvaccinated ones. The study authors showed that when factored for age, younger unvaccinated individuals had lower infection rates, while there was little difference between the two groups among older people.
The research also showed that infection rates were low for all age groups and vaccination status across the population. According to the research, nearly 42% of infections were “breakthrough” infections in individuals who had taken the updated vaccine.
In December 2023, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against one of the vaccine manufacturers for misleading advertising, as reported by The Dallas Express.
“We are pursuing justice for the people of Texas, many of whom were coerced by tyrannical vaccine mandates to take a defective product sold by lies,” Paxton said. “The facts are clear. Pfizer did not tell the truth about their COVID-19 vaccines.”
Dozens of state and federal agencies had enacted vaccine mandates, but many have since dropped the policy. In May 2023, the federal mandate for federal employees was rescinded, according to a press release from the White House.
