COVID-19 infection rates could potentially rise in the coming weeks, causing either a fall or winter surge, as the colder weather drives more people indoors and increases the risk of transmission.
After testing positive, you should stay home and isolated from others for at least five days, with the first day of symptoms being day 0. The five-day window is when those who have the virus are believed to be the most infectious, so wearing a high-quality mask is recommended when you need to be around others, according to health officials.
With the arrival of the long-awaited COVID-19 booster shots geared to target BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants, many may be curious about how effective are the new vaccines. If after five days you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication, and your symptoms are improving, or you never had symptoms, you may end isolation. You should wear a high-quality mask through day 10, however.