NCOC shortens COVID-19 quarantine period

ISLAMABAD: The National Command Operation Center (NCOC) officially shortened the quarantine period for COVID-19 patients from nine to five days if the patient is not having a fever without taking any medication.

After the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reduced the recommended time for isolation to five days. 

The modification in quarantine duration was based on research showing that most SARS-COV-2 transmission occurs early in the illness, usually a few days before and two to three days after symptoms appear.

While the quarantine time in Pakistan decreased, the number of cases detected every day had risen dramatically. The proposed rules were intended to inform COVID-19 patients, their caregivers, and health care providers about home isolation (and discharge) when they or other household members get infected. For infection prevention control (IPC) and to reduce unnecessary load on health care facilities, the guidelines propose evidence-based care approaches.

The revised guidelines suggest that persons with Covid-19 isolated for five days if they were 'asymptomatic' or 'symptoms were resolving' (without fever for 24 hours).

People exposed to those who have tested positive should be quarantined for five days, followed by mandatory mask wear for an additional five days, if they are unvaccinated or are more than six months past their second vaccine have not yet received their booster dose.