
Many Americans have wrestled with this dilemma at some point during the pandemic, yet it still seems to come up again and again: When can you stop isolating after a COVID-19 infection? The question is especially vexing if you're feeling better, but still testing positive on a rapid test.
Even with the arrival of new subvariants, the basic ground rules haven't changed since omicron first came onto the scene: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says someone can stop isolating after five days if they're fever-free for 24 hours and are starting to get better — as long as they keep wearing a mask around others for another five days.