As the coronavirus pandemic continues on, guidelines and situations are changing on a regular basis. 

Dallas County Health Department Public Information Officer Ann Cochran says one change people should be aware of is the quarantine guidelines for those who have COVID-19 and need to isolate from others due to the new Omicron variant having less severe symptoms than previous variants.

“In order to reduce the impact of many, many people being off work at the same time by this very contagious variant the emerging science is showing a shortened time of isolation will protect our population without negatively impacting schools, and businesses, and all the rest.”

Cochran tells Raccoon Valley Radio it’s also important to remember the difference between isolation and quarantine as isolation is when you have contracted the virus and quarantine is for when you think you may have been exposed but aren’t certain. 

“For isolation day one is the first full day after your symptoms developed. You may leave isolation after five full days now with these new guidelines. So, stay by yourself don’t interact with anyone else.

Cochran says you can leave isolation after five days when you have been fever free for 24-hours without the aid of things such as Tylenol but you should wear a mask for an additional five days and not go places where you can’t be masked at all times.