US Shortens Isolation Period for Confirmed Cases and Contacts from 10 Days to 5 Days

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] U.S. health authorities have decided to shorten the quarantine period for COVID-19 confirmed cases and their contacts from the existing 10 days to 5 days.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated on the 27th (local time), "There is increasing evidence that confirmed cases are most infectious during the first two days of infection, before full symptoms appear."

This decision is in response to the recent spread of the Omicron variant. As confirmed cases surged, the number of people entering quarantine increased sharply, causing confusion in the healthcare system and the airline industry.

With the shortened quarantine period, asymptomatic confirmed cases must quarantine for the first 5 days, then wear a mask around others for the remaining 5 days. People who have completed vaccination and have been in contact with confirmed cases must get a COVID-19 test 5 days after contact and wear a mask for 10 days.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said, "The new guidelines have advanced the timing for people to return to workplaces, stores, and public places."

The U.S. government is also considering mandating vaccination for domestic airline passengers. Currently, the U.S. only mandates vaccination for foreigners entering by air.

Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), said in an interview with MSNBC on the same day, "Mandating vaccination could encourage more people to get vaccinated," adding, "(Mandating vaccination for domestic flights) is a reasonable additional mandate."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.