Emory epidemiologist explains updated COVID guidelines

March 18th, 2024

FILE - A student wears a mask and face shield in a 4th grade class amid the COVID-19 pandemic at Washington Elementary School on Jan. 12, 2022, in Lynwood, Calif. Four years after the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools and upended child care, the CDC says parents can start treating the virus like other respiratory illnesses. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Federal health officials are recommending another round of COVID-19 booster shots for those 65 and older or with weakened immune systems.

Dr. Jodie Guest is a professor of epidemiology at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.

She said the new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) outline shorter necessary isolation periods for patients who test positive for COVID.

Guest said vaccines are still the best tool for preventing infection, but only a small percentage of the population has received the latest booster.

She said even though hospitalization and death rates have been lower with the most recent strain of COVID, there is still a serious risk of contracting long COVID.

Dr. Guest joined “All Things Considered” to explain the new guidelines.

Christopher Alston contributed to this report.