Covid-19 patients can see others if they are fever-free for 3 days and 10 days since symptom onset: CDC
When is it safe to be around others after you have had Covid-19? Improving symptoms, no fever for 3 days, at least 10 days since symptom onset — these are criteria for when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says people with Covid-19 can leave self-quarantine and be around others again. The guidance will be helpful as states across the US continue to open up and people return to work.
“When you can be around others (end home isolation) depends on different factors for different situations. If you think or know you had Covid-19, and you had symptoms, you can be with others after 3 days with no fever, symptoms improved, and 10 days since symptoms first appeared,” says the advisory.
People, who have been infected, need to be sure they will not spread the virus, even if they feel better, advises the CDC. Depending on the healthcare provider’s advice and availability of testing, the agency recommends that a person may get tested to see if they have Covid-19. “If you will be tested, you can be around others when you have no fever, symptoms have improved, and you receive two negative test results in a row, at least 24 hours apart,” it says.
The CDC recommends that asymptomatic people who have tested positive for Covid-19 should wait 10 days after the positive test before resuming normal activities. “If you continue to have no symptoms (after testing positive for coronavirus), you can be with others after 10 days have passed since the test. Depending on your healthcare provider’s advice and availability of testing, you might get tested to see if you still have Covid-19,” the agency suggests.
For people with a weakened immune system due to a health condition or medication, the CDC asks them to stay home longer than 10 days. “If testing is available in your community, it may be recommended by your healthcare provider. If testing is not available in your area, your doctor should work with an infectious disease expert at your local health department to determine if you are likely to spread Covid-19 to others and need to stay home longer,” says the CDC.
The agency also continues to recommend that if people come into close contact with a person confirmed to have Covid-19, they should self-isolate for 14 days while monitoring for symptoms. “Check your temperature twice a day and watch for symptoms of Covid-19. If possible, stay away from people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from Covid-19,” say the guidelines.
However, not having symptoms or testing negative cannot be a substitute for practicing social distancing and good hand hygiene, say experts. The CDC says handwashing is one of the best ways to protect oneself and family members from getting sick. This is particularly important as businesses and shops reopen, and people start using public transport. “Before you leave, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Once you reach your destination, wash your hands again with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol as soon as possible upon arrival,” says the advisory.
People who are sick or have recently had close contact (closer than six feet for at least 15 minutes) to a person with Covid-19 have been asked to not use public transportation and stay at home except to seek medical care.
The CDC says measures must be taken to protect oneself and slow the spread of Covid-19 when using transportation. During travel, it asks Americans to try and keep at least six feet (two meters) from people — for example, when they are waiting at a bus station or selecting seats on a train. As part of social distancing measures during travel, the advisory calls for traveling during non-peak hours, when possible, considering skipping a row of seats between oneself and other riders if possible, and entering and exiting buses through rear entry doors if possible. “Avoid gathering in groups, and stay out of crowded spaces when possible, especially at transit stations and stops,” say the guidelines.
While using public transit, it advises people to limit touching frequently touched surfaces such as kiosks, digital interfaces such as touchscreens and fingerprint scanners, ticket machines, turnstiles, handrails, restroom surfaces, elevator buttons and benches as much as possible. “If you must touch these surfaces, as soon as you can, wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water or rub your hands with sanitizer containing 60% alcohol. Use touchless payment and no-touch trash cans and doors when available. Exchange cash or credit cards by placing them in a receipt tray or on the counter rather than by hand, if possible,” it suggests.
In taxis and rideshares, the CDC once again suggests avoiding contact with surfaces frequently touched by passengers or drivers, such as the door frame and handles, windows, and other vehicle parts. It suggests using a hand sanitizer if such contact is unavoidable. Using touchless payment when available, avoiding pooled rides or rides where multiple passengers are picked up who are not in the same household, and sitting in the back seat in larger vehicles such as vans and buses so that one can remain at least six feet away from the driver, are other recommendations. “Ask the driver to improve the ventilation in the vehicle if possible — for example, by opening the windows or setting the air ventilation/air conditioning on non-recirculation mode,” says the CDC.
Over 1,721,700 Covid-19 cases have been reported from across the US, and more than 101,610 have died in the pandemic as of May 29, according to Johns Hopkins.