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Progressive ideologues voiced outrage this week after the Biden administration relaxed quarantine requirements for people who test positive for COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new guidance on Monday that people who test positive for COVID should isolate themselves for only five days — down from the agency’s previous requirement of 10 days.
Specifically amid the latest wave of COVID infections, businesses have experienced pressure from a significant increase of employees who have become sick with COVID and are thus being forced to stay home for two weeks.
People angry over the updated guidelines charged that the Biden administration made the change to appease corporate interests. Accusers cited Delta Air Lines, which has suffered staffing issues and therefore canceled flights due to sick staff members in recent weeks.
Some of the most circulated accusations included:
Delta CEO Ed Bastian did, in fact, write to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky last week asking her to cut the quarantine requirement from 10 days to five days for vaccinated people who experience a breakthrough COVID infection.
"With the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the 10-day isolation for those who are fully vaccinated may significantly impact our workforce and operations," Bastian wrote. "Similar to healthcare, police, fire, and public transportation workforces, the Omicron surge may exacerbate shortages and create significant disruptions."
Walensky confirmed Wednesday that her agency altered quarantine guidelines based on what public health officials believe Americans can tolerate — not corporate interests.
"It really had a lot to do with what we thought people would be able to tolerate," Walensky said on CNN.
\u201cIt really had a\u00a0lot to do with what we thought\u00a0people would be able to\u00a0tolerate,\u201d CDC Director Walensky says on why the CDC shortened the isolation period from 10 days to 5 days if you\u2019re asymptomatic. Our full interview:pic.twitter.com/rO7blPFiPj— Kaitlan Collins (@Kaitlan Collins) 1640782912