So You Tested Positive for COVID. How Long Should You Quarantine?

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is sweeping through the United States with unprecedented speed, now making up the majority of cases across the country.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are testing positive for COVID every day at a rate that has already surpassed last winter’s deadly peak, before vaccines were readily available. 

But on Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance shortening the recommended quarantine period for people who test positive but aren’t showing symptoms from 10 days to just five, with a recommendation to wear a mask for an additional five days. “These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement accompanying the guidance.