The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its protocols for positive COVID-19 cases.

According to a release from the Saline County Health Department, for known COVID-19 cases requiring isolation, the CDC is shortening its recommended isolation period from 10 to five days, provided the case is either asymptomatic or has symptoms that are resolving. Individuals with a fever should remain in isolation until the fever resolves.

After the five-day isolation period, the CDC recommends that those persons wear a mask around others for an additional five days.

Per the CDC, the rationale behind this change is a growing understanding that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs in the one to two days prior to symptom onset and the two to three days afterwards. Some individuals still will be capable of transmitting the virus following the five-day isolation period, and the additional five-day masking period recommendation is an attempt to further reduce the risk of those individuals infecting others.