CDC Guidance on Quarantine and Testing Changes (Again)

  • Jan 25, 2022
  • COVID-19
  • Penelope J. Phillips

Just when you’d caught up to the new (now old or refined) CDC Guidelines on isolation, exposure, and positive tests (the December 27, 2021, rules), the CDC tweaked the rules, again.

What are the differences between the “new” rules and the “old” rules? Primarily the January 20, 2022, rules are clearer (relatively speaking) about isolation and the differences among asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID as well as how exposure should be treated depending on vaccination status. Significantly, the recommendations more clearly spell out that the CDC considers individuals to be unvaccinated if they received their vaccination more than six month before an exposure.[1]  The rules also provide explanation on how to count days based on date of exposure or a positive test.  Another clarification is that the CDC considers individuals who have had a positive viral test as fully vaccinated for 90 days following the diagnosis.

CDC Guidelines as of 1/20/2022 Vaccinated and Boosted Vaccinated but not boosted  

 

Defined as completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and the person is not boosted or has completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and not boosted.
 

 Unvaccinated
If Employee has a Positive Test –

 

Day 0 is the first day of symptoms or positive viral test

 

Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms develop or test was collected

Stay home for 5 days and isolate from others.

Ending Isolation: If employee has no symptoms, end isolation at least 5 full days after positive test.

Isolation with symptoms: If employee has symptoms,
end isolation after 5 full days if the employee is fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.

Isolation with severe symptoms: Isolate for at least 10 days, consult with a provider before ending isolation

Wear a mask for 10 full days.

 

 Stay home for 5 days and isolate from others.

Ending Isolation: If employee has no symptoms, end isolation 5 full days after positive test.

Isolation with symptoms: If employee has symptoms,
end isolation after 5 full days if employee is fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.

Isolation with severe symptoms: Isolate for at least 10 days, consult with a provider before ending isolation.

Wear a mask for 10 full days.

 

 Stay home for 5 days and isolate from others.

Ending Isolation: If employee has no symptoms, end isolation after at least 5 full days after positive test.

Isolation with symptoms: If employee has symptoms,
end isolation after 5 full days if employee is fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.

Isolation with severe symptoms: Isolate for at least 10 days, consult with a provider before ending isolation.

Wear a mask for 10 full days.

 
Exposed to someone with COVID

 

The date of employee’s exposure is considered day 0

 

Day 1 is the first full day after the last contact with a person who has COVID

 No quarantine unless employee develops symptoms.

Watch for symptoms until 10 days after last close contact with someone with COVID.

Get tested after day 5 even if employee does not develop symptoms.

Wear a mask for 10 full days.

 Stay home and quarantine for 5 days.

 

Test at least 5 days after employee has close contact with someone with COVID.

 

Wear a mask for 10 full days.

 Stay home and quarantine for 5 days.

 

Test at least 5 days after employee has close contact with someone with COVID.

 

 

Wear a mask for 10 full days.

 

[1] Close contact is defined as someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.