Updated CDC Guidance Regarding COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Periods

On December 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) announced new recommendations related to the Omicron variant. Specifically, the CDC has recommended shortening the time for isolation from 10 days to five days for people with COVID-19, if asymptomatic, followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others.

In addition, the CDC now recommends quarantining for five days followed by strict mask use for an additional five days for those exposed to COVID-19, and who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than two months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted.

The CDC guidelines state that individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.  For all those exposed to COVID-19 - regardless of vaccination status - best practice is also to obtain a COVID-19 test five days after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.

The complete updated guidance can be viewed here. For compliance questions, please contact Burke Warren partner Rachel E. Bossard at 312-840-7029 or rbossard@burkelaw.com, or any other member of the Burke Warren Labor and Employment Practice Group.