CDC Changes Course, Reduces COVID-19 Isolation Period From 10 Days To Five

Slowly, but surely, the CDC is catching up on being reasonable with its suggestions for how to deal with COVID-19.

CNN's Kaitlan Collins reported Monday that the CDC is shortening the isolation period for those who test positive from 10 days to five. The CDC notes the change is motivated by science showing that transmission takes place in the early stages of the illness.

"Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others."

As OutKick's Clay Travis said on Twitter, this could have a vast impact on the sports world.

As the NFL, NCAA, NBA and NHL continue to be ravaged by COVID-19 outbreaks, the new recommendation from the CDC could lead to protocols loosening up even more. The leagues proudly continue to proclaim that they follow the science, often led by what the CDC says.

Under the NFL's current COVID-19 protocols, unvaccinated players who test positive are forced to quarantine for 10 days. Under the CDC's new recommendation, those players would only miss one or zero games on most circumstances, instead of two, as the Chargers' Mike Williams is set to do.

That's crucial for teams in the playoff hunt hoping to have as full of a roster as possible during the last two games of the regular season. It could also have a profound effect on the NCAA's bowl season, that has been dramatically impacted by COVID-19.

The Wasabi Fenway Bowl, Military Bowl, and EasyPost Hawaii Bowl have already been canceled with teams backing out with COVID-19 issues. The Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl is now in jeopardy with Boise State backing out due to an outbreak within the program, per Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy.

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