CDC says 14-day quarantine best way to reduce Covid risk, but 10- and 7-day periods work in some cases - CNBC

Henry Walke, the agency's Covid incident manager, said the CDC still recommends a 14-day quarantine "as the best way to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19." However, he said the agency has identified "two acceptable alternatives.".

The quarantine can end after 10 days if the person has not developed any symptoms and can end after just seven days if the asymptomatic person also tests negative for the virus, Walke said.

"Reducing the length of quarantine may make it easier for people to follow critical public health action by reducing the economic hardship associated with a longer period, especially if they cannot work during that time.".

He said regardless of the length of quarantine, people should monitor their own symptoms for a full 14 days after an exposure.

John Brooks, chief medical officer for CDC's Covid-response, said ending a quarantine after 10 days without a negative test leads to about 1% risk of spreading the virus to others, based on modeling by the CDC and outside researchers.

The rationale for announcing the shortened quarantine options was based at least partly in garnering more compliance among the public, Walke said.

He added that the agency has heard reports from local public health departments of people exiting quarantine early after an exposure.

That's a lot of burden, not just on the people who have to quarantine, but also on public health," he said.