Close contacts of COVID-19 cases don't need to self-isolate: BCCDC
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control has changed its guidelines on self-isolation and managing COVID-19 at home as the Omicron variant of concern continues to surge in the province.
On Wednesday, the BCCDC updated its guidelines, which included changes to self-isolation directions.
The BCCDC says that close contacts of COVID-19 cases no longer have to self-isolate, regardless of vaccination status.
However, people who are close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases should still monitor for symptoms, as should everyone in B.C., says the BCCDC. The organization adds that anyone who feels unwell should stay at home.
Other changes to the province's self-isolation guidelines include details on the length of self-isolation.
The BCCDC says that anyone who is fully vaccinated, or under the age of 18, who tests positive for COVID-19 should self-isolate at home for five days – and until symptoms improve and you no longer have a fever.
After self-isolating for five days, the BCCDC says you should avoid non-essential visits to high-risk settings, such as care homes, for another five days.
If you are unvaccinated and 18 years of age or older, you must self-isolate for 10 days and until your symptoms improve and you no longer have a fever, says the BCCDC.
"These changes are a step toward enabling British Columbians to self-manage their illness and will help guide their actions to limit the spread of illness in our communities," said the BCCDC in a statement Thursday.
"Public health guidance always strives to strike a balance between preventing infection and limiting the harms caused by preventing people from participation in societal activities like working, going to school and socializing."
The BCCDC says the updated guidance comes as the "highly-transmissible" Omicron variant sweeps through the province, requiring a dynamic response to public health guidelines.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control expects further changes to public health guidelines to take place in the coming weeks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.