The Road goes ever on and on ... Day 378 (878)

I was about to write something about the dearth of coronavirus news, followed by the two things I had found. Then, BAM! The CDC has issued new guidance on living with the coronavirus. As with almost everything about the pandemic, there are differing opinions on that guidance. Here goes.

Some things did not change. People showing symptoms and their close contacts should test for covid. Those who test positive should stay home for five days then stay masked for five more during which they can go out into the world. People living in counties with high covid levels should wear masks indoors. 

What's new? For one, social distancing is no longer necessary. It seems that enough people have enough immunity from whatever source that proximity no longer matters. Contact tracing is needed only for hospitals and certain high-risk group-living situations such as nursing homes or prisons. (Does anyone else see the humor in putting those two places together?) The use of regular covid testing is no longer needed except in those high-risk group-living settings. People who have been exposed but are not infected no longer need to be quarantined. People with moderate symptoms such as shortness of breath and those who have been hospitalized should stay home for 10 days rather than five. Immunocompromised people should talk with their doctor about coming out of quarantine after the infection. Finally, people with rebound cases should start over with isolation but also see their doctor. 

As to the differing opinions, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California in San Francisco says that the guidelines align with what people have been doing. They simply "reflect prevailing attitudes toward the pandemic." A Harvard epidemiologist says the new guidelines "...start giving people tools they can use to do something or not. Because otherwise, people will just will [sic] not take you seriously."

One of the sources I check regularly and with whom I generally agree, Eric Topol, responds, "This revision does not go anywhere near enough to correct the problems of flawed recommendations and lack of evidence."

If you've been reading this blog consistently, you know where I fall on the issue. Your mileage may vary, and that's okay as long as you let other people know where you fall.