Was totally confused and was following the older CDC COVID five day isolation guidelines. But according to the new ones I could have left isolation days ago even though I don’t finish my last dose of Paxlovid until tomorrow morning. That’s can’t be right. But what is!? - ThreadSky

budgetmotelabyss.bsky.social • 2 days ago

Was totally confused and was following the older CDC COVID five day isolation guidelines. But according to the new ones I could have left isolation days ago even though I don’t finish my last dose of Paxlovid until tomorrow morning. That’s can’t be right. But what is!?

Comments

jwhampton.bsky.social•2 days ago

Depends on your booster status and test results. If your rapid tests are positive, assume you're still contagious. The more up to date on your boosters you are, the shorter that period is.

Also go by how you feel. Recovery takes a bit.

nhold.bsky.social•1 day ago

I think this point on recovery is a good one and is different from 'am I contagious', it's my impression a person with little chance of infecting others can still rush recovery and end up feeling worse for longer.

jwhampton.bsky.social•1 day ago

Yes. I'm thinking of the study on athletes and cardiac enzymes showing cardiovascular damage for a few weeks.

Also LC in those who tried to rush recovery in that first month.

Far better to just...sit on the couch and drink soup. Boring, but better.

budgetmotelabyss.bsky.social•1 day ago

Thanks. Tested negative on weds and again today but still isolating until tomorrow and then masking for five more days. Been taking it slow too.

jwhampton.bsky.social•1 day ago

One of our friends who recently had it said he was taking it easy until he could walk across his house/office without feeling out of breath. Which is about right.

Good luck, it's brutal. 🍲💖🫂

faux-papa.bsky.social•1 day ago

Pretty sure the CDC guidance changed this week to, “let the olds and poors die in the gutter.”

budgetmotelabyss.bsky.social•1 day ago

Yeah. Just saw that.

nhold.bsky.social•2 days ago

I mean it's all probability - longer isolation correlates with reduced contagiousness post-isolation. IIRC last I checked NHS's guideline was on 5th day from symptom onset, if symptom free, take rapid test. If negative, isolate 1 more day and take second rapid test, if negative then end isolation.

nhold.bsky.social•2 days ago

(I assume the guideline's relaxed now because infection prevention is less of policy priority now, but idk, I haven't checked in a while.)

budgetmotelabyss.bsky.social•2 days ago

It looks like its the same guideline from 2023 and its not due for review until 2026.

nhold.bsky.social•1 day ago

I used to follow the guideline changes closely but I haven't in a while. My sense is over time all guidelines shifted toward lower isolation times, making a tradeoff between less immediate disruption and more infections (because more contagious people walking around). It's also my impression that

nhold.bsky.social•1 day ago

rapid tests have issues with false negatives but more so early rather than late, and that the chances of two false negatives separated by 24 hours is low, so I think that part of the guidance is good when feasible.

budgetmotelabyss.bsky.social•1 day ago

To be clear even though i rapid tested negative on weds and again today I’m waiting until tomorrow which would make it five days and masking for five more days after it just to be extra safe.

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply