The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated federal guidelines on quarantines. “This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives.”
- “Testing of asymptomatic people without known exposures will no longer be recommended in most community settings.”
- “This updated guidance is intended to apply to community settings. In the coming weeks CDC will work to align stand-alone guidance documents, such as those for healthcare settings, congregate settings at higher risk of transmission, and travel, with today’s update.”
- When reviewing the updates, these clinical guidelines distinguish between mild, moderate, and severe illness in determining how long to quarantine.
- The updated CDC guidelines are below and immediately effective.
| Circumstances | Recommendation on Masking, Testing, and Isolation |
| Exposed (whether vaccinated or not vaccinated) | Wear a high quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day 5 |
| Test positive with no symptoms or mild symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or loss of taste and smell, but do not have shortness of breath, dyspnea, or abnormal chest imaging) |
Quarantine at least 5 days
Still wear a high quality mask through day 10 However, be sure to still avoid people at heightened risk until at least day 11, and if symptoms come back, restart isolation at day 0 |
| Become moderately ill (shortness of breath, evidence of lower respiratory disease) | Quarantine through day 10 |
| Become severely ill (hospitalized) or have a weakened immune system | Quarantine through at least day 10 but consult your doctor |
IMA will continue to monitor regulator guidance and offer meaningful, practical, timely information.
This material should not be considered as a substitute for legal, tax and/or actuarial advice. Contact the appropriate professional counsel for such matters. These materials are not exhaustive and are subject to possible changes in applicable laws, rules, and regulations and their interpretations.