The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday (December 27) shortened the recommended quarantine period from 10 days to only five days, for those who have contracted COVID-19 but are asymptomatic.

This as the new strain of the virus continues to spread through the US and after recognising when the majority of the transmission of the virus actually occurs.

“The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness,” the CDC said in a statement. Most of the transmission takes place early in the course of the illness which is 1-2 days prior to the onset of symptoms and 2-3 days after.

Following the new five-day isolation, subjects may leave quarantine but are to wear masks to minimise the risk of the virus spreading.

In addition to this, there has also been a change in the isolation time for those exposed to the virus. The isolation time for those unvaccinated, those who are six months beyond receiving their second dose or six months beyond receiving their booster is also five days.

“For people 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, CDC now recommends quarantine for five days followed by strict mask use for an additional five days.”

And there are some persons, who may not be subject to quarantining at all.

“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,” the CDC said. 

Those who experience symptoms should quarantine immediately until a negative COVID test confirms that symptoms are not related to the virus.