PHOTO: CDC
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – People who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need isolate for five days. The CDC is releasing new guidelines when it comes to dealing with respiratory illnesses, and not just COVID.
It’s hard to go anywhere these days and not come across someone who is sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose.
But, according to Infection Preventionist, Meghan Buechel, with Bellin Health, we are starting to exit respiratory illness season, and hospitalizations for things like COVID-19 have been down for the past couple of weeks.
According to Buechel, “We are seeing some influenza activity begin creeping up again kind of getting a second wave on influenza currently, but hopefully that will run its course in the next few weeks.”
With illness rates dropping, the CDC is adjusting its guidelines for not only COVID-19, but all respiratory illnesses, to include things like influenza and RSV.
“We’re to a point where we now have plenty of tools to combat COVID-19 and we’re learning to coexist with it. We know that the tools we have in place when implemented are effective at reducing COVID-19 transmission, severe disease, hospitalization and this is proven with the data that we’ve seen so the CDC is taking a more holistic stance,” said Buechel.
The new guidelines call for people to stay home for 24 hours after illness onset and be fever free for 24 hours too. Then, for the next five days, people should take precautions, like masking and good hygiene to protect others.
Even testing for COVID-19 is not as vital as it used to be, except for people with weakened immune systems or other risk factors.
Buechel added, “Getting that COVID-19 test for them can help initiate treatment strategies that can help them lessen the symptoms that they’re experiencing or lessen the severity of COVID-19 illness that they have.”
Healthcare officials say it’s important to get back to the basics, stay home when you’re sick, be mindful of prevention measures and listen to your body.
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