HWN Suggests

How to self-isolate if you think you have coronavirus

… If you have a confirmed case of the Covid-19 coronavirus disease but don’t need immediate medical attention, health professionals suggest self-isolation. That means to separating yourself from other people so that you can get better without infecting anyone else. (Experts also recommend self-isolation or quarantine for those who have contacted a health professional and show symptoms of the disease — including fever, dry cough, and fatigue — but haven’t yet been tested yet, and for those who have been in close contact with people known to have the virus.)

It’s a highly effective method for slowing the spread of the virus, and one of the ways the 2003 SARS outbreak was contained.…

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 The C.D.C. stands by a decision not to require testing to leave isolation

The guidelines now say that an individual who “has access to a test and wants to test” at the end of the isolation period may do so, but stops short of a recommendation to test.

Articles of Interest

U.S., Europe Weigh Isolation Requirements as Omicron Disrupts Daily Life

European governments are relaxing some quarantine requirements to help keep daily life open with new Covid-19 infections surging, while the top U.S. infectious-disease expert suggested health authorities might tighten isolation measures.

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Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, CDC 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

CDC: people who test positive for Covid with no symptoms should isolate just five days

“I am 100% for getting people to drop isolation early. Heck, I formally recommended it to CDC in May 2020 and published the recommendation in the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases in April 2020. But it was always with a negative test. What the heck are we doing here?”

New CDC isolation guidelines raise concerns among health experts

"CDC's new guidance to drop isolation of positives to 5 days without a negative test is reckless," tweeted Dr. Michael Mina, an epidemiologist and chief scientific officer at eMed. "I absolutely don't want to sit next to someone who turned [positive] five days ago and hasn't tested [negative]."

The CDC’s Defense of Its New COVID Guidelines Is Complete Nonsense

But given that many employers rely on the CDC’s guidelines for when workers can return to their jobs after catching COVID, there’s a good chance these new, looser rules are going to result in more infections, which could end up disrupting people’s lives and businesses just as much as requiring infected individuals to test negative or stay home a couple extra days. The CDC’s nonsense justifications don’t make that any less of a frustrating reality.

The Covid isolation guide: how to prepare for a positive result

Once you receive a positive diagnosis, positive cases should “immediately isolate yourself at your home, or other accommodation”...

What to Do if You Test Positive for Covid-19 as Omicron Variant Surges

After nearly two years of pandemic, figuring out what you’re supposed to do after receiving a positive test result is still tricky, and varying vaccination status among the population makes the questions more complex.

When to End Self-Isolation or Quarantine

Self-isolation and quarantine help protect the community by preventing exposure to people who have or may have COVID-19.

Will Shortened Isolation Periods Spread the Virus?

Without rapid testing, some experts fear new U.S. guidelines may mean infected people leave isolation while still contagious. The C.D.C. director said masking was a better option

C.D.C. Shortens Covid Isolation Period for Health Care Workers

The agency issued revised guidelines as Omicron cases climb and hospitals grapple with worker shortages that have left wards understaffed.

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Most people who test positive for COVID-19 won’t need hospital care and will self-isolate at home. But is it then inevitable the rest of the household will catch it? It shouldn’t be, if you follow a few important infection prevention steps.

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Being forced into isolation and confinement creates a number of potentially stressful demands. However, we might be able to learn a thing or two about coping with these demands, from people who choose a life in such settings.

C.D.C. Faces Pressure to Change Isolation Guidelines for Sick Workers

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Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2

In general, asymptomatic HCP who have had a higher-risk exposure do not require work restriction if they have received all COVID-19 vaccine doses, including booster dose, as recommended by CDC and do not develop symptoms or test positive for SARS-CoV-2. The duration of protection offered by booster doses of vaccine and their effect on emerging variants are not clear; additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Lockdown, quarantine and self-isolation: how different COVID restrictions affect our mental health

It is now well documented that the pandemic has generally contributed to a number of mental health problems including stress, anxiety and depression. But what role do restrictions on movement play in this? And how do they differ?

Remind me, what's the difference between isolation and quarantine?

Vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna within the last six months? Vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson within the last two months? Boosted? If any of these conditions apply to you, then no need for a precautionary quarantine after an exposure to COVID. However, CDC wants you to wear a mask for 10 days following the exposure and recommends a COVID test on day 5.

Self-Isolation? I’m an Expert

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Should Isolation Periods Be Shorter for People With Covid-19?

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The Loneliness Pandemic

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What Covid-19 Taught Us About the High Cost of Isolation

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What is “social distancing,” and how can it slow the coronavirus outbreak?

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What To Do If You Test Positive For The Coronavirus This Winter

If you've gotten a positive test result, here's advice from doctors about how to handle a mild to moderate, or even asymptomatic, case on your own — and when you need to seek emergency help.

Resources

CDC

You quarantine when you might have been exposed to the virus. You isolate when you have been infected with the virus, even if you don’t have symptoms.

NHS

How long to self-isolate...You usually have to self-isolate for 10 full days if you've tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or have been in close contact with someone who has it.