Despite the Centers for Disease Control's consistent updates on coronavirus testing, vaccinations, and masking recommendations, people are more confused than ever on which guidelines they should follow if contaminated.
Listen to the latest episode of "Bay Current" below.
KCBS Radio reporter Kathy Novak joined KCBS Radio's "Bay Current" on Wednesday to discuss the numerous updates from the CDC, and how public health experts, like UCSF Dr. Monica Gandhi, agreed with the new messaging on isolation guidelines.
"Gandhi is someone who argues for living with COVID. Not being irresponsible, but the baseline is that the vaccination rate is high in the Bay Area, and the risk has changed from before vaccinations were widely available," Novak said.
"She is saying that it's prudent to have people quarantine for five days, and if they are not symptomatic, allow them to stop isolating and continue to wear a mask."
The CDC's advisory that people with coronavirus can exit the isolation period early if asymptomatic spurred outrage from people across the country - particularly younger people. Social media users tweeted memes and posted TikTok videos ridiculing the agency.
However, Novak emphasized that health experts are commending the science-backed announcement from the CDC because of the progress the medical community has made with vaccinations, treatments, and other methods to mitigate the impact of coronavirus.
"Gandhi is excited about the treatments available if people do become hospitalized because of COVID," Novak added. "The question becomes if COVID is becoming endemic. Now that more than 80% of San Franciscans are vaccinated, even though there are 800 or more daily cases, most people will not go to the hospital."
Novak added that because of the evolution of the pandemic over the last two years, the CDC will have to alter its messaging to fit the ever-changing situation.
"I saw something on Twitter that was criticizing the CDC’s changing messaging. But the response was how you won’t be advised to wear a jacket when it’s 60 degrees outside, but now it’s less than 40 degrees and you need to wear a jacket. The situation is always changing, and the virus is mutating and people need to adapt. It’s overwhelming, frustrating, and confusing," she said.
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