'US Faces Medical Staff Shortage, Reduces Isolation Period to 7 Days for Asymptomatic Infections'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] As the new COVID-19 variant Omicron rapidly spreads, raising concerns about hospital bed shortages and healthcare worker shortages, the United States has decided to ease the regulation that initially required healthcare workers to quarantine for 10 days if infected.

According to Politico on the 23rd (local time), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shortened the isolation period, allowing healthcare workers infected with COVID-19 to return to work after 7 days if they test negative again and show no symptoms. The current recommended self-isolation period for confirmed cases is 10 days.

Additionally, the CDC has revised guidelines to allow the isolation period to be shortened to 5 days or less if COVID-19 cases surge further and healthcare worker shortages worsen. This is interpreted as a measure to secure as much available workforce as possible.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky stated in a press release, "This is to prepare for the surge in patients caused by Omicron," adding, "Our goal is to maintain the safety of healthcare workers and patients while addressing and preventing excessive burdens on healthcare facilities."

Recently, the daily average number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. has surpassed the peak recorded during the Delta variant wave. According to The New York Times (NYT), the seven-day average daily COVID-19 cases as of the previous day was 168,409. This exceeds the previous maximum of 164,418 recorded during the Delta variant spread in September.

Especially with the year-end holiday season causing a surge in travel across the United States, this is considered a factor that could accelerate the spread further. If this continues, it is expected that the all-time record set during the second major surge in January (251,232 cases) will soon be broken.

With hospital bed shortages already in place, it will inevitably be difficult to respond if confirmed cases increase this rapidly. The NYT reported, "Hospitals nationwide are nearly full," and "Healthcare worker shortages are worsening the situation." Dr. Danny Hackner of the Southcoast Hospital Group in Massachusetts said, "Next month will be a very difficult month."