Changes in quarantine time after testing positive for COVID-19 in Pecos County could soon be shorter.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Monday that their guidelines for quarantine time changed from 10 days to five days due to the nature of Omicron variant.

“The Omicron variant is spreading quickly and has the potential to impact all facets of our society. CDC’s updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses. These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.

Pecos County Emergency Management Coordinator Jessie Dominguez said on Dec. 28 that DSHS has yet to determine if they will follow the guidelines, and in turn pass down the recommendations to each region.

“Sometimes the state will say “we’ll follow the CDC’s guidelines or no we’ll change it.” That’s what we’re waiting to hear back from the state on. I reached out to the regional coordinator for DSHS, I’m waiting to hear back from her,” he said.

The CDC’s press release, which was released on Monday, said that the change was motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the one to two days prior to onset of symptoms and the two to three days after.

Their recommendations went on to say that an individual may leave isolation if asymptomatic after five days and then wear a mask in public for the following five days to minimize the risk of infecting others.

The CDC emphasized the use of a mask if a person is not vaccinated or have not received their booster after six months of their second shot (two months after J&J vaccine).

This is a developing story. More information will released as given by local health authorities.