Hawaii COVID testing expert says 5-day isolation guidance isn’t enough to prevent spread of virus

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Involved a few potential COVID publicity within the Metropolis Council Chamber, Chair Tommy Waters organized free antigen testing for about 30 councilmembers and employees this week.

He instructed HNN that up to now everybody has been destructive.

The episode underscores simply how widespread COVID is on Oahu amid an ongoing surge.

“It’s all over the place we flip round,” mentioned Dr. Scott Miscovich, who was the COVID testing director for US Olympics.

Miscovich is important of the state and federal authorities’s dealing with of the virus.

He says the CDC and Hawaii Well being Division’s five-day timeline to exit COVID isolation in case you’re totally vaccinated is flawed and companies and employees can’t merely have a look at day 5 as an computerized go to get out of isolation.

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He recommends antigen house testing to get out of isolation.

“The information may be very clear at 5 days you possibly can nonetheless possibly have 40% of people that will nonetheless be shedding the virus and nonetheless contaminated. It’s a variable quantity. Some people who find themselves immunosuppressed will likely be shedding as much as 14 days,” mentioned Miscovich.

Miscovich says well being officers ought to give extra particulars on utilizing house checks which are actually extensively accessible.

“That may be a main, main failure and it comes all the way in which from the federal authorities as we are able to order free checks from the federal authorities they usually don’t clarify to individuals in case you’re asymptomatic it’s a must to check twice inside 48 hours to know.”

“We must always stand on the rooftops to say that.”

Dr. Ashish Jha, White Home COVID Coordinator, mentioned testing is an efficient technique to preserve infections down.

“You’ll be able to check your self earlier than going to a big gathering or earlier than you go go to somebody weak,” Jha mentioned.

The CDC and DOH steering on when it’s OK to go away isolation has not modified. You’ll be able to return to work:

• No less than 5 full days since your signs began or since your check date in case you had no signs;
• In the event you’ve had no fever for twenty-four hours, with out taking fever-reducing medicines
• and in case your signs are bettering.

Miscovich says after testing constructive for COVID, don’t take one other PCR check as a result of it’s too delicate. “The antigen check is the check that ought to convert to destructive if you wish to safely lead individuals to return into an atmosphere,” mentioned Miscovich.

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