The entrance of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has led Army officials to change their quarantine policy. However, much of the old policy remains in effect, putting the onus on military and civilian personnel to exercise good judgment in keeping themselves and others around them healthy and safe. This includes teleworking for at least five full days and monitoring overall health for an additional five days.

FORT KNOX, Ky. — The omicron variant of COVID-19 has swept across the U.S. landscape faster than any previous variant, leading to increased precautions to try and slow the spread.

As a result, officials at Fort Knox have changed the installation’s quarantine policy, effective Jan. 24.

“One of the things that the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has authorized — it’s not required, it’s not a mandate, it’s not a law — is for people to go to a different quarantine status now,” said Dr. James Stephens, chief of Preventive Medicine at Fort Knox’s Ireland Army Health Clinic. “In the past you were quarantined 14 days. We knew 14 days because the old variants took up to 14 days to develop, incubate in your body and develop the illness.

“Omicron changed all that.”

Omicron, identified by scientists as B.1.1.529, was first detected in Botswana and South Africa and reported to the World Health Organization Nov. 24, 2021.

According to the CDC website, the Omicron variant behaves differently from previous variants in that it spreads much faster, and clears out of the system faster. The CDC reversed course on the original 14-day quarantine period and reduced it to five days.

“Most people develop the illness by Day 2,” said Stephens. “Most people then also end up not infective by Day 5. The caveat is, there are still up to 30% of people that are infective at that time but because Omicron is considered such a low danger, the CDC said allowing those 30% to go outdoors was an acceptable risk.”

Stephens said there were other factors that weighed on the CDC’s decision.

The latest Fort Knox guidance on quarantining and isolating during infection or exposure as of Feb. 4, 2022

“They also understood that a lot of people need to get back to school, they need to get back to work,” said Stephens. “It’s a huge impact on society, economics and health care to have quarantine going on for that long.”

There is one issue with the five-day quarantine update that personnel need to be aware of, said Stephens — an issue that makes it incumbent on personnel to take extra precautions.

“Delta is still out there; all of the variants are still out there,” said Stephens. “We need people to understand that there’s no way they are going to be able to tell if they have Omicron within five days unless they get a specialized test, so it should not be ‘five days and you’re done: end of story.’

“If you are positive even after five days of isolation, you still have to follow wearing a mask, avoiding being around people who are high risk, and avoiding places where you’re unable to wear a mask.”

Stephens explained that greater responsibility also applies when tempted to visit public establishments after the five days of quarantine are over.

“You’re not even supposed to go to restaurants and eat at the same table as your family during the second part of the five days, if you are positive. You can leave the house after Day 5, but that doesn’t mean you can go around with no protection. You still have to monitor yourself for the full 10 days,” said Stephens. “A lot of people don’t read that part.”

Those who have been released after the five days are not supposed to travel until after 10 days of quarantine. Another point of confusion is understanding that the five or 10-day clock doesn’t start until the day after people are exposed, start having symptoms or receive positive test results.

New versions of COVID have appeared on the horizon that are posing challenges to scientists, including at least four different sub-variants of Omicron, which are being referred to as stealth Omicron.

The stealth sub-variant, known as BA.2, spreads roughly 1.5 times faster than its parent and, according to CDC officials, has two specific deletions in the spike protein that allows it to bypass defenses, including vaccinations and boosters. However, it doesn’t seem to pose any higher risks than Omicron.

Stephens said because of all of this, Stephens said the WHO, CDC and health officials lump all sub-variants under the Omicron umbrella.

“Even though we have the four different sub-variants, their severity and the way they act are exactly the same,” said Stephens. “It’s still not killing people like the old variants; it’s still two days incubation period; it’s still that most people are cleared by Day 5.

“They decided, ‘You know, we’re just scaring ourselves, so let’s lump them all together and call it ‘it’.’”

The conclusion for Stephens remains the same with any sickness.

“COVID, not COVID, Omicron, not Omicron: it doesn’t matter. If you’re sick, stay home," said Stephens. "I don’t want the GI bug, and I don’t want the flu in my office, either. And if you’re sick and test negative, test again in a couple of days. You may have tested too early.”