CDC Catches up to Actual Science With Quarantine Guidelines Shift From 10 Days to Five – Opinion

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has recently removed the adjusted quarantine guidelines for COVID-19 and vaccinated persons. The move comes after a furious response from the aviation industry, which claimed that Omicron variant cases and updated quarantine guidelines were creating staff shortages.

It’s a shame they fired all those employees who refused the jab, but I digress….

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U.S. officials reduced isolation for Americans with the coronavirus to 10 to 5 days and shortened quarantine time for close friends.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the advice is consistent with evidence showing that those with coronavirus symptoms are more infectious when they occur two or three days prior.

A recent increase in COVID-19 case numbers, fueled by the omicron version of COVID-19, also drove this decision.

What does that sound like? It sounds as if the CDC is finally treating SARS CoV-2—COVID-19 and its variants like every other virus. Most flu and cold symptoms are diagnosed within two to five days. It is best to avoid symptoms if possible. It’s not only time. Money, manpower, and other critical resources are also important.

What was the problem with this? What was the government doing last year if they were following science?

Inquiring minds desire to find out.

The CDC was finally struck by the chaos in the workplace, especially critical infrastructure such as hospitals, emergency services and other medical facilities. A second group of workers was fired unceremoniously for refusing to get vaccinated.

They cannot claim they weren’t warned.

CNBC reports that CNBC made the report four days prior.

Major U.S. airline trade groups urged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the recommended quarantine period for people with breakthrough Covid-19 cases to half, because the 10-day current time could cause flight cancellations and labor shortages.

“As with healthcare, police, fire and public transportation workforces, the Omicron surge may exacerbate personnel shortages and create significant disruptions to our workforce and operations,” Airlines for America CEO Nicholas Calio wrote in a letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on Thursday.

The letter, which echoes what Delta Air Lines wrote to Walensky on Tuesday, shows the airline industry’s increasing concern about the impact of the guidelines as Covid cases, particularly of the omicron variant, increase around the country.

Airlines for America represents American, United, Delta, Southwest, FedEx, UPS and others.

The CDC didn’t immediately comment.

I believe that the CDC guidelines have been modified to reflect this change. Of course, it does not save the cluster-you-know-what of holiday travel cancellations occurring even as I write.

Today alone, the airline industry—and as a direct result the American people—are experiencing:

  • Total delays today:  14,405
  • Total delays within, into, or out of the United States today:  6,711
  • Total cancellations today:  3,137
  • Total cancellations within, into, or out of the United States today:  1,373

The CDC finally seems to be catching up with science and economic common sense.

Research suggests that omicron could cause milder illness than coronavirus. But the sheer number of people becoming infected — and therefore having to isolate or quarantine — threatens to crush the ability of hospitals, airlines and other businesses to stay open, experts say.

Rochelle Walensky, Director of CDC, said that the country will soon see a lot more omicron cases.

“Not all of those cases are going to be severe. In fact many are going to be asymptomatic,” she told The Associated Press on Monday. “We want to make sure there is a mechanism by which we can safely continue to keep society functioning while following the science.”

All too little and too late. They have so deeply embedded fear in people, that even the mention of altering how things work, will only cause more fear and recriminations.

Some people win, some lose. In the hour ahead, we will find out which cry wins.

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