The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released new guidance on how to respond to COVID -19. The information is available here and contains ideas on how people can protect themselves and their communities from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.

The CDC updated its recommendations because the U.S. is seeing far fewer hospitalizations and deaths associated with COVID-19 and because the CDC believes that it now has more options to combat flu, COVID, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

CDC provides recommendations on  prevention steps and strategies:

• Stay up to date with vaccinations to protect against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID-19, and RSV, if eligible.
• Practice good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
• Take steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.

The updated guidance recommends that people who are sick with a respiratory virus remain home and away from others. For people with COVID-19 and influenza, treatment is available to lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness. The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and, if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication.

Once people resume normal activities, they are encouraged to take more steps toward cleaner air, enhance hygiene practices, wear a well-fitting mask, keep a distance from others, and/or get tested for respiratory viruses. Enhanced precautions are especially important to protect those most at risk for severe illness, including those over 65 and people with weakened immune systems.

CDC’s updated guidance reflects the ways in which the circumstances around COVID-19 in particular have changed. While it remains a threat, it is far less likely to cause severe illness because of widespread immunity and improved tools to prevent and treat the disease.  States and countries that have already adjusted recommended isolation times have not seen increased hospitalizations or deaths related to COVID-19.

The updated guidance also includes additional considerations for people who are at higher risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses, including people who are immunocompromised, people with disabilities, people who are, or were recently pregnant, young children, and older adults. CDC will continue to focus on ensuring the public has the information and tools to lower their risk or respiratory illness by protecting themselves, families, and communities.

This is a welcome change for employers. With the guidance no longer recommending five days’ absence after a positive COVID-19 test, when employees contract COVID, they may return to work sooner.  Employers should be familiar with the new guidance so that they can counsel employees on when they may return.  Employers may also require an employee with a recent positive COVID test to wear a mask upon their return to work.

This updated guidance is intended for community settings. There are no changes to respiratory virus guidance for health-care settings.

AIM members interested in discussing this or other human resources topics may call the AIM HR Helpline at 1-800-470-6277.