CDC relaxes COVID norms
Isolating and quarantining are the two crucial COVID norms that can help cut down the spreading of the virus from an infected person to a healthy individual. Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, it has been advised to isolate if tested COVID positive and quarantine after coming in close contact with an infected person for 14 days to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus to others. But now the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States has cut down the isolation and quarantine timing for Americans by half.
CDC new norms
Earlier, this year America's health care department had shortened the isolation and quarantine time for their people from 14 days to 10 and now it has further reduced it to 5 days. The CDC on their official website has updated that people with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving and have no fever they can be around people for the next five days wearing a mask to minimize the risk of infecting others. Those who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second dose need to quarantine for 5 days followed by mask use for an additional 5 days.
Read more: Coronavirus variant: Omicron antibody may provide immunity against Delta variant
Why changes have been made
The CDC in the statement said that isolation and quarantine time has been reduced based on the findings that SARS-CoV-2 is more transmitted in the early course of illness. An infected person shreds the virus in the first 2-3 days of the infection. So, it is crucial to be isolated these days. After that period, they are less likely to infect others and are not required to isolate and quarantine. However, it is necessary to be cautious, so wearing a mask is necessary.
Can India follow the same rules?
Looking at the current rising cases in the country and the lingering threat of the Omicron variant, it may not be safe in India to reduce the isolation and quarantine time. After months of respite, COVID cases in India have again started soaring. Reducing the isolation and quarantine timing may cause grave damages. Besides, there is a huge difference between the situation in the USA and India. Those below 18 years haven't been vaccinated in our country and adults have not been administered with a booster dose, unlike America. Easing the norms at this time may invite more problems.
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No knowledge of how long the immunity lasts
Even though a large chunk of the adult population has been vaccinated, it is unknown how long the immunity from the vaccination or natural infection lasts. Besides, there is limited knowledge about the omicron variant and how things will turn out when it will start spreading in the country where there is widespread exposure to the Delta variant. For the time being it is better to follow the 14 days isolation and quarantine rules to protect ourselves from the infectious virus.