Editor's note: This story, which was originally published on Dec. 27, 2021, has been updated to reflect the latest information for customers.

Delta is working to implement new COVID-19 isolation guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday. Those recommendations shorten the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to five days, if asymptomatic, followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others.

The updated guidance allows more flexibility for Delta to schedule crews and employees to support a busy holiday travel season and a sustained return to travel by customers.

Customers who are traveling must also meet the CDC’s new isolation and masking guidelines. Delta agents will be prepared to assist customers at check-in, and the new guidance will be reflected in updated language on Delta.com, the Fly Delta app, check-in kiosks and other customer-facing channels in the coming days.

“This is a safe, science-based and more practical approach based on what we now know about the omicron variant,” said Delta Chief Health Officer Dr. Henry Ting. “This new variant has quickly replaced B.1.617.2 as the dominant variant in the U.S. We’re learning that while omicron is highly contagious, it also involves a shorter duration of illness and a shorter contagious period compared to previous strains.” 

Delta CEO Ed Bastian, Dr. Ting and the airline’s medical adviser, Dr. Carlos Del Rio of Emory University School of Medicine, co-signed a letter to the CDC last Tuesday asking the agency to reconsider its current COVID-19 isolation guidance, shortening the isolation period to five days.

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