NY joins CDC in shortening Covid isolation to 5 days for those without symptoms

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 December 2021 at 7:25 am

New York will follow the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is shortening the isolation period for those with Covid from 10 to 5 days as long as they don’t have symptoms.

The CDC on Monday updated its guidance after research showed the virus is most contagious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop. People with symptoms after five days should to continue to remain at home and avoid contact with others.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced the state would reduce the isolation window from 10 to 5 days for asymptomatic essential workers – employees in healthcare, transportation, grocery stores and others. The state will follow the CDC in the 5-day isolation for everyone as long as they don’t have symptoms.

“As we battle this winter surge, we will keep following the data and science-based public health policies to protect New Yorkers,” Hochul said on Monday in backing the new CDC guidance. “This is a critical step to support our small businesses, critical industries, and essential services as we get through this new variant.”