Respiratory Viruses: Updated Guidance from the CDC
Public health experts have learned a great deal about COVID-19鈥攁 virus never seen before in human beings鈥攕ince the coronavirus first appeared on our shores 4 years ago. 鈥攖he country鈥檚 leading public health authority鈥攁pplied听 its best thinking to the public health emergency. Its earlier guidance was designed to minimize serious illness, hospitalizations and deaths at a time when the U.S. population had far lower levels of immunity to the virus and fewer tools with which to prevent, fight and treat it.听
The CDC鈥檚 previous guidance recommended a minimum isolation period of 5 days, plus a period of post-isolation precautions. As of March 1, 2024, that guidance has changed.听
The CDC now recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after their symptoms have improved and their fever has broken.听
The CDC鈥檚 new guidance also encourages all of us to take added precautions for 5 days after that brief stay-at-home period, including:听
- Airing out our homes and exposing ourselves to fresh air听
- Wearing a well-fitting mask听
- Hand-washing听
- Practicing social distancing听
- Getting tested听
All these measures can lower the chances of spreading COVID to others. And they apply to the other most common respiratory viruses as well: the flu and respiratory syncitial virus (RSV).听
What does 鈥渋mprov别诲鈥 symptoms actually mean?听
By 鈥渋mprov别诲鈥 symptoms, the CDC means an overall sense of feeling better鈥攏o tests required. It鈥檚 about the ability to resume your normal activities. However, 鈥渇ever鈥 is mentioned as a specific symptoms in the new guidance, as people tend to be more infectious when they have a fever.听
The triple respiratory threat听
The CDC鈥檚 new COVID-19 guidance draws on long-standing strategies to prevent the spread of other respiratory viruses鈥攎ost notably, the flu. In other words, it鈥s based on evidence. That evidence indicates that shortening the quarantine period will not increase severe disease or foster a higher rate of transmission.听
With the easing of the COVID pandemic, the virus鈥檚 impact on our health is increasingly seen as similar to other respiratory viruses. That鈥檚 why the CDC has issued a unified Respiratory Virus Guidance, as opposed to a separate guidance for each illness.听听
All three of the most common respiratory viruses share similar symptoms, routes of transmission and prevention strategies.听
However, COVID-19 differs from other respiratory viruses. It continues to pose a serious threat to people at higher risk of serious disease鈥攎补颈苍濒测 those over 65 and the immunocompromised. The updated guidance has been designed to protect these vulnerable populations.听听
What has changed for the better?听
The timing of the CDC鈥檚 updated guidance coincides with the following positive changes:听
- effective vaccines against all three major viruses听
- effective treatments, including paxlovid for COVID and several antiviral medications for the flu听
- high levels of population immunity to COVID听
- fewer hospitalizations and deaths from all three respiratory viruses听
- fewer complications from COVID (even long COVID is becoming less prevalent)听
Takeaway points听
- There鈥檚 no need to quarantine for extended periods. The CDC recommends staying home and away from others for at least 24 hours after your symptoms ease and you no longer have a fever.听
- You can go back to your normal activities as soon as your symptoms improve. A COVID test is optional. The new guidance is based on symptoms, not testing.听
- Precautions鈥攅specially those that protect others鈥攔emain the same as in the CDC鈥檚 previous guidance.听
If you鈥檙e experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19, schedule a video visit with your primary care physician or find a doctor here.听