Santa Barbara County health experts clarify confusion over CDC isolation guidelines

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. -- If you’re feeling like the latest isolation guidelines is getting confusing … Health experts in Santa Barbara County agree.

“it's extraordinarily confusing what the recommendations are, whether it’s from the Center for Disease Control, the California Department of Public health, or even some of our local public health departments,” said Dr. Scott Robertson at Marian Regional Medical Center.

As Robertson explains, it comes down to three basic points.

"Whether or not you’re fully vaccinated … whether or not you’re symptomatic … and the duration of when you tested positive or developing symptoms is," said Robertson.

Robertson says most people who developed COVID-19, the virus will be most transmissible in the first five days or so.

"We also know almost everyone doesn’t have the ability to transmit the virus after 10 days. That’s Why you’ll see a five day period or a 10 day period within some of these recommendations," said Robertson.

In short, Robertson says if you test positive for COVID-19, the latest guideline recommends a minimum of 5 days of isolation.

If you’re able to test negative during that time period, you can come out of that isolation.

However, health experts say it’s critical that you exercise all health protocols thereafter.

“Like keeping a physical distance because the vaccines going to prevent you from being hospitalized and potentially dying … however it’s not going to help much with the spread,” said Dr. Sagar Asodia at JDX Pharmacy.

"It’s very important that you wear a high-grade medical grade high filtration respiratory mask such as an N 95 for the following 10 days of the isolation period," said Robertson.