California Eases Covid-19 Isolation Guidelines Amid High Case Rates

Critics argue the new policy, which allows asymptomatic Covid-positive individuals to resume normal activities, could increase transmission and risk of long Covid.

California's Department of Health has relaxed its isolation requirements for Covid-19, allowing adults to resume normal activities if they are fever-free for 24 hours and have improving symptoms.
The new guidelines are based on symptoms alone, ignoring test results, and differ from the CDC's guidelines, which recommend isolation for five days for test-positive patients.
Critics argue that the new policy is not based on science, equity or public health, and could lead to increased transmission and risk of long Covid.
The policy change has also led to the Oakland Unified School District allowing asymptomatic Covid-positive students to return to school, a move that has been widely criticized.
Despite the relaxed guidelines, Covid-19 cases in California remain high, with a test positivity rate of 12.3% as of January 3, and available ICU beds continue to decline.