Back to the basics: CDC relaxes COVID-19 guidelines on isolation, testing – Fox11online.com

Back to the basics: CDC relaxes COVID-19 guidelines on isolation, testing

by Emily Matesic, FOX 11 News

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). (CDC via AP, File)

It's hard to go anywhere these days and not come across someone who is sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose.

However, according to Infection Preventionist Meghan Buechel with Bellin Health, we are starting to exit respiratory illness season. She said hospitalizations for viruses like COVID-19 have been down for the past couple of weeks.

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According to Buechel, "We are seeing some influenza activity begin creeping up again, kind of getting a second wave on influenza currently, but hopefully that will run its course in the next few weeks."

With illness rates dropping, the CDC is adjusting its guidelines for not only COVID-19, but all respiratory illnesses, including things like influenza and RSV.

The new guidelines call for people to stay home for 24 hours after illness onset and be fever free for 24 hours. Then, for the next five days, people should take precautions, like masking and good hygiene, to protect others.

Even testing for COVID-19 is not as vital as it used to be, except for people with weakened immune systems or other risk factors.

Buechel said, "Getting that COVID-19 test for them can help initiate treatment strategies that can help them lessen the symptoms that they're experiencing or lessen the severity of COVID-19 illness that they have."

Health care officials say it's important to get back to the basics: Stay home when you're sick, be mindful of prevention measures and listen to your body.

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