 |
| There have been long queues at testing sites throughout the holiday period. (Photo by= EPA) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] US health officials have halved the recommended isolation time for people with asymptomatic Covid-19 from 10 to five days, amid a surge in cases. BBC said that the measure is expected to alleviate disruption caused by staff shortages in many areas because of infections.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says most transmissions happen two days before and three days after symptoms develop. But experts have criticized the lack of testing requirements to end isolation. The sharp rise in cases has been fuelled by the Omicron variant of the virus, which is now dominant in the US. Early studies suggest Omicron is more contagious than other variants, although milder. The growing number of people isolating has pressured several industries, including air travel, with thousands of flights canceled during the Christmas holiday. Leaders of major US airlines were among those calling for the change, as cancellations continued for a fourth day on Tuesday.
The CDC said the new guidance was "motivated by science" and must follow the isolation by five days of wearing a mask around others. The announcement came as more than 200,000 daily infections were confirmed nationwide in the past two days. CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the recommendation "balances what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses."
