ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The CDC is now recommending to shorten the isolation period for asymptomatic positive cases to five days instead of 10.

It's a decision that's divided many health officials, many voicing their concerns against this policy.

They’re crying foul on social media over the decision, saying CDC is bowing down to business interests and confusing Americans.

But there is science to support the decision and why agency officials possibly decided on five days.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found "risk of COVID-19 transmission to close contacts was higher if exposure occurred between −2 (before) and 3 days from symptom onset."

Before that, The Lancet from the UK also published "…viable virus appears to be short-lived...detected early in the disease course, with an early peak observed at the time of symptom onset to day 5 of illness."

That same study pointed out the problem.

How do you know to isolate in time if you're asymptomatic and have not tested? It's what's not in the CDC policy concerning many health experts.

USF Professor of Medicine Dr. Michael Teng also said the studies for a change from 10 to 5 days are outdated and don’t consider omicron’s mutations such as its ability to evade immunity.

Previous studies have shown there is no "meaningful difference" in viral clearance duration between the original strain compared to variants such as alpha, delta and others of concern.

But glaringly, Dr Teng said it’s the CDC not including a test to release from isolation policy that’s wrong.

"If you want to be released from your five day isolation or quarantine because of exposure, test negative,” said Dr. Teng.  “If you have a negative test, boom, you’re out, still wear the mask just in case but you're done. You're negative. You can't detect any viral antigens in your nose, so it's unlikely that you're going to be actually spreading."

Last week, when the UK changed its isolation policy from 10 to 7 days, it required two negative tests 24 hours apart and not before the sixth day.