News CDC cuts isolation time for Americans who test positive from 10 days to 5. Latest COVID-19 updates December 27, 2021John Bacon, Celina Tebor and Christal Hayes, USA TODAYComments Off on CDC cuts isolation time for Americans who test positive from 10 days to 5. Latest COVID-19 updates Health officials also reduced the amount of time one should quarantine after coming into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID. Updates.