Here's how to decide if you're safe to go out when you're recovering from omicron

The good news is, the numbers of COVID-19 cases are plummeting across the country. But there's still a stunning amount of virus spreading in many places, with more than 100,000 reported cases a day. If you have a current infection, you might be wondering, just how long am I infectious? And when is it safe for me to step out and socialize again without risking getting others sick?

The answer depends on whom you ask.

According to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can exit isolation five days after a positive test or the start of symptoms, so long as your symptoms are improving and you keep wearing a mask around others an additional five days.

However, this guidance comes with caveats: It's largely based on data from