CDC Changes COVID-19 Isolation Guidance

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control changed their guidance on how long a person should stay in isolation for people who have tested positive for the virus but are showing no symptoms.

The CDC has the following posted on their website:

For persons who never develop symptoms, isolation and other precautions can be discontinued 10 days after the date of their first positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Persons with COVID-19 who have symptoms, the CDC recommends, and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation under the following conditions:

• At least 10 days* have passed since symptom onset and
• At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
• Other symptoms have improved.

On Friday, the Gallatin County Health Board voted to extend a local emergency rule that requires people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to remain in isolation until they are no longer contagious. This passed 8-1. The rule also requires quarantine of those who are identified as close contacts of known cases and those who are symptomatic and awaiting test results.Those in isolation can quarantine in their home or in a government directed or publicly provided location.