The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the guidance for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and no longer recommend an isolation period of five days.
The new recommendations for COVID-19 align with recommendations for flu, RSV, and other common respiratory viruses. When an individual gets sick with COVID or a respiratory virus, the updated guidance recommends they stay home and away from others. An individual may return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without the use of a fever-reducing medication.
Once people resume normal activities, they’re encouraged to take additional prevention strategies for the next five days to curb disease spread, such as enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and/or getting tested for respiratory viruses.
Additional information regarding recommendations can be found in the CDC press release dated March 1, 2024.
FLU
DSHS urges everyone six months old and older to get vaccinated against the flu. It is particularly important for pregnant women, young children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions, because people in those groups are at a greater risk of severe complications if they do get the flu.
For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/
- Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces or objects. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill.