The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week has updated its guidance regarding self-isolation for people testing positive for COVID-19, as well as its policy on face masks.
Regarding self-isolation, it’s being reported that the new guidelines do away with requiring two negative tests to end isolation, partly because testing is still hard to come by and may take two weeks to get the results back.
The new guidelines from the CDC require those who are symptomatic with COVID-19 to isolate at home for 10 days after symptoms begin and 24 hours after fever has broken.
Additionally, those with severe illness and those who are severely immunocompromised should isolate for 20 days after the onset of symptoms.
Health officials have changed their minds about face masks as new research has shown the efficacy of them. According to CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield, “If we all wore face coverings for the next four, six, eight, 12 weeks across the nation, this virus transmission would stop.”
It’s important for pastors and church leaders to stay on top of the latest information coming out of the CDC as opposed to the politicized rhetoric coming out of social media and mass media.
Does this information inform or change your strategy in your local church?