CDC plans to shorten quarantine for those exposed to coronavirus :: WRAL.com



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The CDC is considering shortening the recommendation that people be quarantined for two weeks if exposed to the coronavirus, but some local doctors say there is a risk that some cases will go unnoticed.

Public health officials are currently recommending that people quarantine at home for two weeks – the time they think it takes for the virus to incubate in the body – if exposed to someone with coronavirus .

Now the directions can change. Researchers are looking to see if the tests can be used to reduce the quarantine time from 14 days to 7 to 10 days.

Recently, the CDC updated its advice on international travel, urging travelers to get tested for the virus 3-5 days after returning home. If this test is negative, they advise staying home for a full seven days. Without testing, quarantine should last the full two weeks.

As the holidays approach, Dr. David Wohl, an infectious disease specialist at UNC School of Medicine, still advises that, even with a negative test, people should be careful of this virus.

“It helps if the test is negative, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t going to spread the virus,” Wohl said. “A negative test is a big green light, but go ahead and always wear the mask, take some distance and be careful when eating because everyone has their mask on.”

This change in quarantine guidelines is only being considered by the FDA at this time. It is not known when these new directions could be announced.

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