Centers for Disease Control have changed the definition of who is considered “close contact” with someone who has the coronavirus.
Previously, the CDC defined close contact within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes. That definition was used to determine when a person should be quarantined. Now, “close contact” is defined as being within 6 feet of an infected person or person for at least 15 minutes over a 24-hour period, indicating that multiple brief encounters may contribute to the spread of COVID-19.
While the CDC stated that data on the subject was limited, “15 minutes of contact at a distance of 6 feet or less can be used as an operational definition (close contact) for contact detection,” the guide noted.
After a study of the spread of coronavirus in a Vermont prison, if an employee became infected with the virus after brief, close contact with infected people, there was an increase of more than 1 minute during the ift-hour shift.
Exposure time contributes to the transmission rate, however, the CDC said.
“In general, if you live around a person with Covid-1 (who has no symptoms), you are more likely to get an infection,” the CDC said.
People who have had close contact with a person infected with the coronavirus are isolated and tested.
According to the CDC, the number of cases in the country is increasing while in health districts it has increased by 0%. The CDC said the average daily case county in the past week is 13% higher than in the previous 7 days.
