Someone with COVID may return to normal activities if their symptoms are improving and they are fever-free without medication for 24 hours, according to new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
COVID is now being treated similarly to other respiratory illnesses such as the flu or RSV.
Indiana University Director of Public and Environmental Health Graham McKeen said this move may be a little premature, as both the science and the virus itself have not changed much, and people can still be infectious for multiple days.
“It's still not the flu,” McKeen said. “We still have 2,000 Americans dying every week from the virus, we still have millions suffering from long COVID and other complications.”
The CDC recommends taking measures to prevent spread after leaving isolation such as wearing a well-fitting mask and keeping distance from others.
The CDC also recommends preventative measures such as staying up to date with vaccinations, practicing good hygiene and using things like air purifiers to avoid infection.
McKeen said this change may be good for those who can’t afford to miss work or school. But he is worried this change will affect people’s interest or ability to test for COVID if they are symptomatic.
"We're kind of massaging that messaging and still trying to really encourage people want to be aware of the symptoms and to stay home from work or school when you're sick,” McKeen said.
The federal government’s free COVID test program ends March 8.
McKeen said IU will defer to CDC guidelines as always, and students and faculty can still self-report.
