Des Moines, Iowa — If you test positive for COVID or are exposed to someone who has it, you’ll now have to spend less time alone.
The Iowa Department of Public Health says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others.
Health officials tell us the change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to the onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days afterward. Therefore, they say that people who test positive should isolate for 5 days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others.
The CDC is also updating the recommended quarantine period for those exposed to COVID-19.
For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, the CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. Alternatively, if a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure.
Health officials tell us that individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.
Officials from the Iowa Department of Health tell us that for all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, they say the individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
