COVID is going around again this summer, with infections rising across Florida and the country. The good news is that the most common variants circulating in the country—KP.3, KP.
2, and LB.1—cause similar symptoms to previous COVID strains, such as cough, fever and fatigue. And many people can recover at home.
The bad news: These variants have a mutation that make them more contagious. So, how long should you quarantine at home if you're sick with COVID? And should you wear a mask again? The U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations have changed throughout the pandemic. Now, the federal public health agency's guidance focuses more on symptoms. Here's what the CDC's current guidance says.
If you test positive for COVID and have symptoms: Stay home and away from others until symptoms get better overall and you no longer have fever (without the help of fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours. "Depending on the length of symptoms, this period could be shorter, the same, or longer than the previous guidance for COVID-19," the CDC states. Once the "stay home period" is over, the CDC recommends taking additional precautions, such as wearing a mask and avoiding crowded areas for the next five days as you might still be contagious.
Make sure to wash your hands frequently, too. Don't worry. While some symptoms, such as fever, are common during periods when someone is infectious, other symptoms, like a lingering cough, might stick around for a while,.
