NEW COVID GUIDELINES

New COVID guidelines are in the works. The CDC is expected to release the new guidelines in the second quarter of this year (2024).

These guidelines have not yet been signed off by the White House (as of March 2024) and may be subject to change. Here are some current facts…

THE BIGGEST CHANGE IN THE
NEW COVID GUIDELINES

The biggest change in the new COVID guidelines is that in cases of mild symptoms, the recommendation would be that COVID patients would not need to isolate if their symptoms are improving and if they are fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours.

The caveat here is that this change would not apply to healthcare settings with vulnerable populations.

A QUICK OVERVIEW OF CDC COVID GUIDELINES HISTORY

At the beginning of the pandemic, the CDC recommended that infected Americans quarantine for 14 days. This policy was changed to 10 days in December of 2020 with a 7-day isolation period for those receiving negative tests after exposure.

In December of 2021, the CDC cut the quarantine period from 10 days to a 5-day isolation period.

In August of 2022, the agency said that unvaccinated Americans did not need to quarantine after exposure and routine testing of schools was not required. The recommendation for the 5-day quarantine for those who were infected was maintained by the CDC at that time. All these changes have confused most Americans.

Additionally, the World Health Organization ended its global health emergency designation for COVID on May 5, 2023, with the US ending its COVID Public Health Emergency declaration on May 11, 2023.

In January of 2024, the state of California shortened its own isolation requirements. Under the new guidelines, adult Covid patients are not required to isolate if they do not have a fever for 24 hours and have improving symptoms. However, they are advised to wear a mask for 10 days.

WHERE ARE WE WITH COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS?

Currently, COVID hospital admissions are going down after a significant uptick in cases last summer. But it is not only the continuing COVID infections that is alarming, it is the evidence of the rise of many other types of respiratory diseases, as well as diseases such as monkeypox and others throughout the world that is concerning.

Should the new COVID guidelines be accepted, there is a really big question looming. Are the infection control guidelines the CDC is espousing really considering the elderly, immunocompromised or even the known effects of COVID infections leading to Long Covid? 

IMMUNITY THEFT and
IMMUNITY DEBT

'Immunity theft' and 'immunity debt' are not medical terms but are often used when referring to immunity to COVID and other viruses.

'Immunity theft' is used to describe the theory that the virus that causes COVID-19 'steals' immunity, leaving some people who have had the virus more vulnerable to other infections.

'Immunity debt' refers to having lowered immunity to bacteria and viruses because of a lack of exposure to those pathogens. The term is usually used in reference to the case of COVID lockdowns and how cases of RSV and the flu surged afterward.

The 2 terms may have some truth to them, but it must be understood that immunity is something we develop and not something that is stolen or needs to be replaced.

TAKEAWAY

An individual who has had COVID can be expected to be immune to a new COVID infection for several months. Even though there is still little evidence that having had COVID makes a person more likely to develop other diseases, it is still a good idea to be aware that there may be the possibility of being more susceptible to other infections after a COVID infection.

If you are an individual who is worried about getting sick after having had COVID, it would behoove you to wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces and try to avoid people who are coughing and sneezing.

In addition, try to keep on top of the news about COVID and other illnesses and the policies and recommendations of the CDC and other infection control agencies to be able to make your own informed decision on what you should or should not do to keep yourself safe.

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