CDC broadens guidance on degree of 'close contact' that poses COVID-19 risk

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has informed the public that "close contact" with infected persons poses a high risk of contracting the virus. The agency recently updated its guidance on exactly what close proximity means.

'Within 6 feet of infected person'

Previously, the CDC defined close contact as spending at least 15 consecutive minutes within six feet of an infected person. On October 21, however, the agency issued updated guidelines defining close contact as being within six feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of at least 15 minutes over a 24-hour period. The definition applies without regard to whether face masks were used by either the newly infected person or the person(s) with whom the close contact occurred.

The CDC moved to change the definition after a Vermont corrections officer became infected following several brief interactions with six coronavirus-positive inmates. The officer had 22 different, fleeting encounters with infected inmates that lasted a total of only 17 minutes overall ― none coming close to the 15 minutes cited in the earlier guidelines.

One expert noted the huge impact the new definition will have on "workplaces, schools and other places where people spend all day together off and on." Another added, "This will mean a big change for public health when it comes to contact tracing and for the public generally in trying to avoid exposure."