This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a change in Covid-19 guidelines by cutting the length of quarantine time from 10 days to five for those people who test positive for coronavirus but are asymptomatic.
After the five days of quarantine, those who tested positive must wear a mask for the remaining five days in order to prevent the chance of spreading the virus.
It’s a revision that has certainly surprised people considering the recent surge of Covid cases due to the Omicron variants.
Though the CDC has argued that the change in guidance is due to new scientific evidence which suggests it is in the early stages of the virus when Covid transmission occurs.
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“Not all of those cases are going to be severe. In fact many are going to be asymptomatic,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told Associated Press on Monday (December 27) when the announcement was made. “We want to make sure there is a mechanism by which we can safely continue to keep society functioning while following the science.”
Despite this evidence, their reasoning has still left people scratching their heads and hasn’t stopped criticism about the new rule on social media as people are concerned about whether the virus can still be transmitted after five days.
While in times of worry some critique and air their qualms, others turn to humour as the CDC new guidance quickly became a hilarious meme - here are some of the best tweets:
the CDC announced that i don't have to tell anyone else in the group that a zombie bit me a few miles back— i bless the rains down in castamere (@i bless the rains down in castamere) 1640717689
New CDC guidelines https://t.co/IX2Dki1yIY— not m*rt*n (@not m*rt*n) 1640730560
CDC in 2020 CDC 2021 https://t.co/63y0JlZ6us— Nicole Nichelle (@Nicole Nichelle) 1640808726
The CDC just announced you don’t actually have to wash your hands, just get the fingies a little wet— Ariel Dumas (@Ariel Dumas) 1640665813
The CDC https://t.co/NnOeH3kUHa— cryptic incognito (@cryptic incognito) 1640797800
the cdc announced that you can now lose a guy in just 5 days— the hype (@the hype) 1640712179
New CDC guidance: https://t.co/WVJf2Xkpnv— The 🏳️🌈 T.A.L. 🏴Symbiont 🌲 (@The 🏳️🌈 T.A.L. 🏴Symbiont 🌲) 1640671226
The CDC recommends bringing the giant wooden horse into the city, it seems nice— Classical Studies Memes for Hellenistic Teens (@Classical Studies Memes for Hellenistic Teens) 1640770005
the CDC announced they’re dating pete davidson— Maddy Gross ✿ (@Maddy Gross ✿) 1640706125
cdc says go ahead and get bangs— Ygrene™ (@Ygrene™) 1640707041
the CDC says it's not omicron unless it comes from the Omicrônne region of France, otherwise it's just sparkling covid— mike cella (@mike cella) 1640722753
The CDC now says a venti iced coffee and two ibuprofen is a balanced breakfast.— Shailin Thomas (@Shailin Thomas) 1640712014
The CDC says you can now wipe back to front— Bog Witch Energy (@Bog Witch Energy) 1640645088
The CDC recommends that you're forbidden to wet your hair for at least 24 hours after getting a perm at the risk of… https://t.co/8vegYkzazf— Tim Popp, Six, Squish, Uh uh... (@Tim Popp, Six, Squish, Uh uh...) 1640706152
The CDC said just wear jeans and a cute top— Carrie Ann (@Carrie Ann) 1640709211
the cdc recommends that you should release your inhibitions and feel the rain on your skin— Hurt CoPain (@Hurt CoPain) 1640706019
The CDC: https://t.co/xVnHJXJw9J— Sam Stryker (@Sam Stryker) 1640801438
The CDC says you can now ask “what are we” after 5 dates.— Alexandra Bucky Variant Chaos Magic Anderson (@Alexandra Bucky Variant Chaos Magic Anderson) 1640653938
cdc says to just go up and talk to her and just be yourself— Laurence (@Laurence) 1640712292
The CDC recommends employees not wash their hands after using the restroom so they can get back to work sooner— Gabe (@Gabe) 1640666895
Meanwhile, the CDC’s rule change has been criticised by Lindsay Wiley, an American University public health law expert as she told AP she believes this new set of guidance will confuse the public and are “happening at a time when more people are testing positive for the first time and looking for guidance.”
Only time will tell if the move has paid off, but until then at least we can take comfort in some funny memes.