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 On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) stopped short of recommending a rapid antigen test for people
seeking to end their COVID-19 isolation at five days.
"A negative test should be required for ending isolation after one
tests positive for COVID-19. Re-emerging without knowing one's
status unnecessarily risks further transmission of the virus," the
AMA said.
The CDC last week reduced the recommended isolation period for
people with asymptomatic COVID to five days from 10, and on Tuesday
backed that decision saying a review of 113 studies from 17
countries showed that most transmission occurs early in the course
of infection.
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 The AMA said physicians are
concerned that these recommendations put
patients at risk and could further overwhelm the
healthcare system.
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has
spread rapidly across the United States, leading
to a surge in hospitalizations and a shortage of
test kits.
The AMA urged the U.S. government to use all
means to ramp up production and distribution of
COVID-19 tests, adding that a "dearth of tests
at the moment does not justify omitting a
testing requirement to exit a now shortened
isolation".
(Reporting by Leroy Leo; Editing by Devika
Syamnath)
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