The Washington Post released a story that the CDC is considering replacing the COVID five-day isolation period guidance with staying home until 24 hours fever free and improving symptoms. In this episode, we’re breaking down all we do and don’t know so far about COVID, its impact, and this potential change in recommendation from the CDC.

In the news highlights, we discuss how unfortunately two million Texans have lost Medicaid coverage, and we also share the latest results on our quick poll on the patient experience with clinical trials.

Among the highlights in this episode:

00:39: Zoe, Associate Director of Community Outreach at GHLF, explains that over two million people have been dropped from Medicaid in Texas, highlighting the significant impact of pandemic policies ending and procedural issues leading to disenrollment

02:22: Our hosts share insights from a GHLF quick poll about clinical trials with 68% of the 2,000 respondents indicating they had not participated in a clinical trial

04:57: Our hosts address leaked information regarding potential changes to CDC isolation guidelines for COVID-19, emphasizing the confusion and lack of official statements

06:14: The conversation shifts to the challenges of accessing COVID tests and the inadequacy of paid sick leave in the U.S., highlighting how these factors complicate the management of COVID-19

08:46: Zoe reflects on the current state of COVID, including declining hospitalizations but lagging booster shot uptake, stressing the ongoing concern for those with chronic illnesses

10:05: Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF, speculates on the potential impacts of changes to CDC guidance on isolation and masks, considering the general public's adherence to such guidelines

13:44: Our hosts discuss the particular risks COVID-19 poses to immunocompromised individuals and the challenges they face in the workplace

15:25: What our hosts learned from this episode

To learn more about COVID guidelines and isolation, visit:
https://creakyjoints.org/living-with-arthritis/coronavirus/patient-perspectives/covid-guideline-isolation-patient/ 

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: zrothblatt@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Manager of Programs & Special Projects at GHLF.

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