COVID Variant - Omicron B.1.1.529

it is still too early to know whether the new variant, dubbed omicron, is more transmissible than the delta variant. There remains little understanding about the severity of illness caused by the variant and the rate of hospitalization. Scientists in South Africa, where the variant was first identified, said they expect more breakthrough cases in people vaccinated against the coronavirus.

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CDC Shortens Isolation for Some Covid Infections

12/28/21

from The Wall Street Journal,

12/28/21:

Some business leaders and public health experts had called for quarantine and isolation periods to be shortened as the highly infectious Omicron variant drives a surge in cases.

U.S. officials cut the number of days that they recommend people isolate after being infected with Covid-19 to five days from 10, reflecting recent research, new pandemic-management ideas and stress on some industries as the Omicron variant has sickened workers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that people who have been infected with Covid-19 and are asymptomatic may leave isolation after five days and should wear masks around other people for five more days.

The risk of infection diminishes significantly toward the end of such windows, they said, and long absences for workers have strained operations at hospitals, airlines and other businesses.

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CDC Shortens Isolation for Some Covid Infections