The Omikron corona variant meant that in many countries the quarantine period was again extended to 14 days - in some cases even longer. In many places there is also no possibility of free testing. This has now come to an end in the United States, as the CDC has shortened the recommended special period to five days.
This applies both to people who have tested positive and to suspected cases. Instead of ten days - without the possibility of free testing - you only have to be quarantined for five days in the USA. Even in the run-up to the CDC decision, numerous airlines and their lobbying associations demanded that the duration of segregation should be reduced because more and more dramatic personnel bottlenecks were occurring.
The justification of the CDC is, among other things, that scientific analyzes have shown that the outbreak of the disease usually occurs within two days of infection. Those affected should be infectious a maximum of two days before symptoms and a maximum of three days afterwards. Therefore, the US Epidemic Agency is of the opinion that five days of isolation is sufficient in the event of infections and suspected cases.
The agency received criticism from unions such as the flight attendant AFA-CWA, who consider the pace of easing in view of the Omikron variant, which has now dominated in the United States of America, to be too quick and negligent. In order to prevent bottlenecks, the CDC reduced the quarantine period for medical employees a few days ago. Now employees of transport companies, including airlines, no longer have to be isolated for so long.
The CDC recommends that mouth and nose protection should be worn around other people for an additional five days in the days following the end of the quarantine. The head of the authority is of the opinion that Omikron could affect other parts of society and must be acted accordingly so that the infrastructure does not collapse due to countless quarantine cases.
While unions criticize the decision of the CDC and describe it as negligent, it was received positively by the largest airlines in the United States of America. For example, Delta Air Lines stated that the new CDC requirements will be implemented immediately.