Quarantine quandary finds clarification following recent CDC findings

The CDC recently announced the shortened recommended length for a COVID-19 quarantine. People infected or exposed to COVID-19 should stay at home for five days instead of the previously recommended 10. The Oshkosh Area School District [OASD] followed suit and implemented it at school for students and teachers.

The CDC suggested taking five days of quarantine instead of 10 days because of their research and findings of the Omicron variant that has been spreading rapidly. Asymptomatic cases, according to the CDC, should be quarantined for five days and wear a mask around people after, as well as for symptomatic people. As long as the symptoms are resolving, which would include being without a fever for 24 hours, symptomatic people must stay at home. After that, they should be able to go outside with a mask around people. They have started recommending this because studies have shown that the majority of COVID-19 infections happen early within the illness. However, there are many questions on how this has affected school life. 

French teacher Kristen Thompson acknowledges the struggle of teaching a foreign language online and how the shortened time out of school affects students and their ability to learn and keep on track. 

“It depends, I’d say maybe 60% are using online options, as they should,” Thompson said. “It is so hard to progress in a language because you have to hear it.” 

Language along with math and certain sciences can be very challenging to teach and learn online. Many students and teachers struggle to connect and help each other with these prospects. 

Junior Cohen McConnell understands the struggles with being absent from school, especially when it comes to missing essential information taught in classes. He appreciates the shortened quarantine length for not pushing him further behind.

“If you are in class you have a lesser possibility of getting behind,” he said. “I got behind in a few of my classes and it was very irritating to catch up because everyone else was understanding topics and I was still behind.” 

Due to the shortened quarantine length, students have been finding it easier to stay caught up on lessons.

“It made a world of difference because they are not scrambling to catch up when they get back; it’s not as stressful on them,” Thompson said.

The student body seems to have far fewer absences in school following the change in quarantined days, and students seem to agree they are able to catch up easier, especially with the new semester progressing. Despite this, the CDC strongly recommends people to get the vaccine, especially now as the vaccine is becoming more available to all age groups. Following six months after the second dose, it is also recommended to get the booster, as many countries are defining fully vaccinated to be having all three shots

By Abi Conklin

Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue V

February 22, 2022