Dropping quarantine: not a good idea
The CDC no longer recommends people quarantine after coming in contact with someone with the COVID-19 virus, even if they did not receive the vaccination. COVID continues to play a factor in everyone’s lives, and quarantining keeps it under control. “Allowing students to return to school five days after infection, without proof of negative COVID-19 test, could lead to outbreaks in schools.” Public health researcher Anne Sosin said.
September 6, 2022
Quarantining plays a vital part in keeping the people in a community safe and protected from contracting COVID-19. With sources saying the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will not force people to quarantine, this could pose a health hazard. Nobody wants to catch COVID-19 or experience any symptoms of the virus. An individual can receive COVID and not show symptoms. In fact, 30% of people who contract COVID do not show symptoms. However, the best way to ensure the other 70% of people do not suffer from COVID symptoms remains crucial. Quarantining for the recommended 5 days, even when exposed, can protect others from symptoms: including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, the new loss of taste and/or smell, and fatigue.
The CDC recommended people wear a high-quality mask for the first 10 days and receive testing on day 5. In Georgia, the average number of daily cases reaches a high of 3,222. When someone contracts COVID, quarantining proves an effective way to bring down the number of daily cases. Researchers say that every person who contracts COVID-19 will eventually pass the virus on to 2 or 3 others.
“Quarantine can be effective at reducing the transmission of contagious disease and has the possible additional benefit of reducing the time to diagnosis for infected patients who are being monitored while under quarantine,” the National Center of Biotechnology Information said.
COVID-19 has led to the death of over 1 million people since the virus’s original arrival in the country in early 2020. As of August 27, the count of patients in the hospital in the United States due to COVID reached 32,366 people. As COVID remains unpredictable, recommendations state a control strategy.
“Remind public opinion, through regular information messages, that the pandemic is not over, that it may jeopardize the start of the school year in September and that barrier measures and the wearing of masks should be reinstated, especially in public transport,” the Accueil Académie Nationale de Médecine said.
Remaining persistent in quarantining provides the safety of people all over the world. Quarantining does not only protect the public, but it also ensures that one will not unknowingly infect someone that they cross paths with.
“Honestly I don’t really mind the CDC dropping quarantine. I’m vaccinated but COVID seems to have died down. I personally like the rule where if you are exposed to covid, to quarantine for 14 days and I think that has been very effective, especially for athletes.” senior Jonathan Castro said.
