CDC August 2022 Updates to COVID-19 Guidelines

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

  • If after 5 days you are fever-free for 24 hours without medication, and your symptoms are improving (or you never had symptoms), you may end isolation

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.