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Articles

Implications of Shortened Quarantine Among Household Contacts of Index Patients with Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection — Tennessee and Wisconsin, April–September 2020

CDC Media Relations
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A shorter quarantine after household exposure to COVID-19 might be easier to complete, but it poses some risk of disease transmission. People who go back to being around other people before 14 days should continue to avoid close contact and wear masks when around others, including within the household. CDC currently recommends two options to reduce the duration of quarantine for close contacts without symptoms: (1) quarantine can end after 10 days without a COVID-19 test; or (2) quarantine can end after 7 days after receiving a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test result. A 14-day quarantine of all close contacts who are exposed to a person with COVID-19 is still the most effective strategy to reduce the spread but might be difficult to maintain. An ongoing CDC study of household transmission of COVID-19 found that household contacts who did not have symptoms and had negative tests through a 7-day quarantine period had a 19% chance of having symptoms or a positive test in the next week. If a household contact did not have symptoms and had negative tests through 10 days of quarantine, they had a 7% of having symptoms or a positive test in the remaining 4 days. While a 7- or 10-day quarantine may improve adherence, it carries some risk for further COVID-19 spread. Those who leave quarantine before day 14 should avoid close contact and wear masks when around others to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. These study findings demonstrate the possible risk of shortening quarantine, particularly the risk posed by household contacts.

Opportunities to Address Men’s Health During the Perinatal Period —- Puerto Rico, 2017

CDC Media Relations
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The time around pregnancy and birth is an opportunity to engage fathers in their own health and to highlight the role they can play in supporting their families’ overall health and well-being. Data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System–Zika Postpartum Emergency Response study in Puerto Rico conducted in 2017 showed that less than half of men attended a healthcare visit for themselves in the year before their infant’s birth. However, most fathers attended one or more prenatal care visits (87%), were present at the birth (83%), and helped prepare for the arrival of the newborn (93%). These data suggest opportunities to engage with expectant and new fathers during the perinatal period about their own health and educate them about opportunities to positively influence their families’ overall health.

Performance of an Antigen-Based Test for Asymptomatic and Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Testing at Two University Campuses — Wisconsin, September–October 2020

CDC Media Relations
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This investigation found that the Sofia rapid antigen test was less accurate than RT-PCR for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infections in students and faculty tested at two universities in Wisconsin, and that the antigen test accuracy was lowest among study participants not showing symptoms (asymptomatic). To account for reduced test accuracy of antigen tests, CDC recommends considering confirmatory testing with an FDA-authorized molecular test, such as RT-PCR, following negative antigen test results in people who have COVID-19 symptoms, and following positive antigen test results in asymptomatic people. A CDC-supported investigation evaluated performance of a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 (Quidel’s Sofia SARS Antigen Fluorescent Immunoassay) at two universities in Wisconsin by comparing it with the performance of a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Among people reporting COVID-19 symptoms at the time the samples were collected, the Sofia antigen test was less accurate than reported in the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (sensitivity of 80% vs. 97% in previous reports). For people who were asymptomatic at the time samples were collected, the accuracy was significantly lower – only 41% of RT-PCR-positive samples were also positive by antigen test and, in this population, the majority of positive antigen tests were “false positives,” which is when someone tests positive but does not have the virus. To account for less accurate results of antigen tests, CDC recommends considering confirmatory testing with an FDA-authorized molecular test, such as RT-PCR, following negative antigen test results in symptomatic people and positive antigen test results in asymptomatic people. This highlights the importance of considering confirmatory molecular testing (e.g., RT-PCR) following rapid antigen test results.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Poliovirus Surveillance

CDC Media Relations
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Since March of 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic has hurt poliovirus surveillance activities worldwide by disrupting or delaying routine surveillance and laboratory operations. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has developed a dashboard to track changes in surveillance activities that allows for the program to respond with a timely, targeted approach. A polio outbreak is confirmed when stool samples from children with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) or sewage samples from sites for environmental surveillance test positive for the presence of poliovirus. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) supports poliovirus surveillance to detect and monitor polio outbreaks around the world. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has diverted resources and personnel from poliovirus surveillance, reducing the number of AFP tests performed in 2020, extending the time between sample collection and testing, and interrupting eradication efforts.  As surveillance data is critical to informing polio response activities, GPEI has adapted by updating surveillance strategies, developing informational dashboards, and innovating approaches to move samples across national borders. Despite the increased challenges of operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, including diverted resources, GPEI remains steadfastly committed to eradicating polio.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Interim Recommendation for Use of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, December 2020 (Early Release December 20, 2020)

CDC Media Relations
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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Updated Interim Recommendation for Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, December 2020 (Early Release December 22, 2020)

CDC Media Relations
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COVID-19 Stats: COVID-19 Incidence, by Age Group — United States, March 1-November 14, 2020

CDC Media Relations
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From the beginning of March to mid-November, the COVID-19 pandemic affected people of all ages, with the rate of cases increasing in certain age groups at different times. While people 80 and older had the highest rate of cases early in the pandemic, rates have been highest in young adults (ages 18-24) since June. From early October to mid-November, case rates were on the rise in all age groups.

• Percentage of Adults Aged ≥20 Years Consuming Breakfast on a Given Day, By Sex and Age — United States, 2015–2018

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.