Delta Wants CDC to Shorten The Isolation Period for Breakthrough Cases Citing Workforce Concerns

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian requested the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to cut the isolation period for vaccinated individuals who tested positive for COVID19. The CDC currently requires a 10-day isolation period for those who will test positive for COVID-19. Instead, Bastian wrote to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and proposed a five-day quarantine period for breakthrough cases.

Shorten the Isolation Period?

According to the letter co-written by the airline’s chief health officer Henry Ting and medical advisor Carlos del Rio, “Our employees represent an essential workforce to enable Americans who need to travel domestically and internationally”. It also added that “the 10-day isolation for those who are fully vaccinated may significantly impact our workforce and operations”

According to Bastian, Ting, and del Rio, the CDC developed its isolation guidance in 2020. According to them, it was “when the pandemic was in a different phase without effective vaccines and treatments”. The Delta executives argued that it is possible to shorten the isolation period if the vaccinated individual tests negative for COVID.

They also wrote that “As part of this policy change, we would be interested to partner with CDC and collect empirical data”.

Omicron is now the Dominant Strain in the US

The CDC announced on Monday that the omicron variant now represents 73% of sequenced cases. It has already displaced the delta as the dominant strain in the US. To this day, a lot of things remain unknown about the omicron variant.

90% Vaccination Rate

Delta Air Lines said that 90% of their staff already completed their COVID19 vaccine doses. Plus, airline personnel, passengers, and crew members are all required to wear masks on planes and airports.

In November, the Biden administration wanted large companies and federal contractors to require vaccination among their employees. Delta had a unique approach compared to other airlines. Delta announced that unvaccinated workers will eventually need to pay an extra $200 per month for their health insurance.

Bastian said then that “This surcharge will be necessary to address the financial risk the decision to not vaccinate is creating for our company”.