Why does the FDA want us to take so many COVID self-tests? : Goats and Soda – NPR
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) came out with new guidelines for Covid-19 on Thursday. There are a few modifications made. First, they now recommend that instead of quarantining for exposure to Covid-19, you should wear a high-quality face mask for ten days, testing after five days. If the test is negative, you should be good to go and can end your isolation.
If you test positive after five days, it is advised to follow the CDC’s full recommendation on isolation. Per the guidelines, you should stay home for at least five days, making sure to stay away from others, even within your home. According to the CDC, you are most infectious during these first five days. If you are fever free for 24 hours after the five days, without any use of medication, and you see an improvement in symptoms or never had them, you may end the isolation after the five days.
The guidelines also stressed that after you have ended isolation, if your COVID-19 symptoms worsen, you should restart your isolation at day 0.
They also included that they no longer recommend testing asymptomatic people.
Public health officials stress that the pandemic is not over, but we are at a point where it shouldn’t seriously disrupt our daily lives. Greta Massetti, Ph.D., MPH, MMWR author, states that “We’re in a stronger place today as a nation, with more tools—like vaccination, boosters, and treatments—to protect ourselves, and our communities, from severe illness from COVID-19,”
A new poll by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that four-in-ten Americans said they had already returned to living their lives without the COVID disruption. Most Americans said they never or rarely wear a mask indoors with someone not in their household.
If you are still ill and testing negative for Covid-19, it is possible that you did not have COVID. You should still stay away from others if you are sick, regardless of the cause.
You can find the official guidelines at the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0811-covid-guidance.html
For more coverage on this story, check the following additional news sources:
- Why does the FDA want us to take so many COVID self-tests? : Goats and Soda NPR
- CDC relaxes COVID-19 recommendations FOX 13 Tampa Bay
- CDC’s new COVID guidelines nix quarantines, physical distancing KTVB
- CDC changes Covid guidelines and causes more confusion NBC News
- NM health order extended – with changes Albuquerque Journal