The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now considering adding testing requirements to its new isolation guidelines for asymptomatic Covid patients, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci and a report from NBC News.

Last week, the CDC shortened its isolation recommendations for those who have tested positive for Covid but show no symptoms from 10 days to five. Fauci, the president’s chief medical adviser, said that the agency is now debating adding to its guidance,” The CDC is very well aware that there has been some pushback about that,”

Fauci said Sunday on ABC News’s “This Week.” “Looking at it again, there may be an option in that, that testing could be a part of that.” It’s unclear whether a positive test would require further isolation or whether an asymptomatic patient would be free to move about, so long as they’re masked. Slate reported:



“You’re right there has been some concern about why we don’t ask people at that five-day period to get tested. That is something that is now under consideration. The CDC is very well aware that there has been some pushback about that,”

If the CDC does indeed change the guidelines it would come after a period in which its officials defended the lack of testing requirement. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky had said the agency decided against requiring a test after five days in part because they are often inaccurate at that point of the infection and tests can be positive when someone isn’t, in fact, infectious. The agency still, however, said the best practice would be for people to get tested on Day 5 of quarantine.

Fauci said that there has been an “unprecedented” acceleration of COVID-19 cases but he suggested that number may soon not be all that important. “As you get further on and the infections become less severe, it is much more relevant to focus on the hospitalizations as opposed to the total number of cases,” Fauci said.