By Kevin Cleveland
Based on further research and additional collected evidence, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidelines regarding when people who are home isolating with COVID-19 may discontinue isolation. This is important as they are no longer recommending a test-based approach in terms of ending isolation. The new guidelines are as follows:
Persons with COVID-19 who have symptoms 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 (unless otherwise advised by a health professional) and
At least 24 hours have passed since the end of your last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
Other symptoms have improved.
Persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) who never develop COVID-19 symptoms may discontinue isolation and other precautions 10 days after the date of their first positive test for SARS-CoV-2.
NOTE: Please be aware that the CDC distinguishes COVID-19, the disease, from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease. Thus, according to the CDC, people who have SARS-CoV-2 without symptoms do not have COVID-19 while people with symptoms have COVID-19. Also, under current CDC recommendations, people who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 may leave isolation before people who were exposed to it (14-day recommendation). This difference is related to the time it may take for a person to develop the illness and to prevent instances of secondary spread.
If you have any questions about returning employees from COVID related sick time or leave please call the experts at Young, Cohen & Durrett LLP at 916-569-1700.
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