CDC Reduces Quarantine Time Related to COVID

On Monday, December 27, 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shortened the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others. Therefore, people who test positive should isolate for 5 days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others.

The CDC also altered the recommended quarantine period for those individuals exposed to COVID-19. For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, the CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. Vaccinated 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 further stated that for all those exposed, the best practice would also include a test for COVID-19 at day 5 after exposure.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has not yet adopted the foregoing changes, however, it has previously followed the recommendations made by the CDC. Accordingly, employers should be prepared to change their COVID-19 procedures to reflect the altered quarantine requirements, which will help employers return employees to the workplace.

For questions about how this might affect your workplace or any other labor and employment law topic, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Hoffman & Hlavac. To stay updated on key labor and employment law developments that affect your workplace, be sure to subscribe to our blog and follow us on social media.