Dr. Rochelle Valensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told CBS Mornings on Friday that the CDC did not do so. pivot its recommendations around covid-19 isolation, But instead it provided guidance for those who chose to take an antigen test.
“Let me remind you, isolation is for those who have been tested positive,” she said, when asked about the change in isolation guidance. “We now have dozens of papers that are now on our CDC website that we have reviewed to update this guidance in the context of the science and epidemiology of our time.”
He said it is known that one to two days before infection and two to three days after symptoms are the times when a person is most contagious. By day five, after symptoms, “most of that contagiousness, that contagiousness is really behind you,” she said.
“That’s where we say: Do you have symptoms? If your symptoms are better, you’re safe to go out as long as you’re wearing a mask at all times,” she said. What I heard is that many people who were interested in using antigen tests had access to antigen tests.”
“Therefore, we did not advance our recommendations, what we have done is we have provided guidance on how you will use and interpret that antigen test, if you have chosen to take additional steps to obtain it, ” He said. “And that is, if it’s positive, stay home. And if it’s negative, please continue to wear your mask, because that doesn’t mean you’re no longer contagious.”
Asked if tests would be required before leaving isolation if the tests were widely available and if access was no object, Valensky said that “we need tests to leave quarantine — quarantine before you come.” There is a later period. What I want to say is that we have to provide guidance, which is, you know, based on science, which is based on the epidemiology of our present day and to be implemented at the state and local jurisdictional level. is capable. ”
“If they can’t get a test, they should wear a mask,” Valensky said, when asked what people who didn’t get tested should do after five days of isolation. “And that’s exactly what our guidance says, set aside for those first five days, after those first five days, make sure you’re feeling better, if you’re feeling better you can actually go out.” But you need to go out and you need to wear your mask at all times.”
Valensky also addressed criticism about communicating the guidelines, saying, “We’re working 24/7, 12,000 people to keep America safe, with science moving really fast and really fast.” To update our guidance in terms of epidemiology going forward. We have in place, we can improve our communication about how we bring that science to the American people. We will continue to do that. We have some criticism But we’ve also got a lot of support from these new guidelines.”
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