By Jennifer Price, Senior HR Consultant
Just in time for spring, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidelines regarding COVID-19.
Prior Guidance
The prior COVID-19 guidance from the CDC recommended a minimum isolation period of five days plus a period of post-isolation precautions, such as continuing to mask for five additional days after isolation ended.
Updated Guidance
According to the new guidance, if you test positive for COVID-19 you no longer need to stay away from others for at least five days unless you still have a fever or your symptoms have not improved. Specifically, the updated guidance advises that you should isolate yourself until you have been fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours, and your overall symptoms have been improving over the last 24 hours. Under the new guidance, depending on the length of symptoms, an individual’s isolation period may be shorter, the same, or longer than the prior CDC guidance. The CDC’s updated recommendations bring its advice regarding COVID-19 in line with other respiratory infections, such as influenza and RSV.
It is important to note that the CDC is still recommending precautions for the five days following the end of an isolation period. These precautions include wearing masks, improving ventilation, and limiting close contact with others to reduce the spread of the illness.
You can find more details about this updated guidance by clicking on this link to the CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance Update FAQs. If you still have questions about the new guidance or any other HR concern, talk to one of the HR pros at Keystone’s Risk Management Division by calling the HR Helpline at 855-873-0374.
