In a move as unexpected as finding a ripe avocado in your grocery store, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have chilled on their previous COVID-19 spread prevention guidelines. No, this isn’t some late April Fool’s shenanigan. They’re for real, citing a reduction in hospital trips and deaths related to the virus.

Got tagged in the COVID-19 game? You're off the hook from those previous five days of self-imposed exile, says the CDC. Got respiratory symptoms? Just bunker down at home till you start feeling less like a rejected zombie extra. As soon as you’re fever-free for a solid day sans meds, feel free to rejoin the land of the living.

But don’t toss your mask stash yet. The CDC says to play the masked crusader for five days post-isolation, two-for-one deal for those battling COVID-19 or any bonus respiratory illnesses. They assure us that the big bad wolf of respiratory viruses that COVID-19 used to be has been demoted, now rubbing shoulders with the likes of influenza and RSV.

Like a sudden plot twist, not everyone's onboard with CDC's new movie. Some health experts have hit the panic button, while others, like our friend Dr. George Rutherford from the University of California, are endorsing the plot change. He says it’s about time we leverage the existing COVID-19 immunity, more accessible tests, and reduced contagiousness among the non-symptomatic.

Other voices supporting the CDC's new script include Dr. Matthew Binnicker from Mayo Clinic. He advocates treating COVID-19 similar to other respiratory infections, given the less risky nature of the current strains and our arsenal of preventative measures and treatments. This shift is sweet solace to Dr. Emily Hyle from Massachusetts General Hospital, who reminds us that most mildly afflicted people were probably already bypassing the five-day isolation anyway.

So, if you're feeling crummy, don’t play the hero. Take it easy at home, and keep your mask handy when venturing outside. Hyle suggests sticking to the mask routine beyond the CDC’s recommended post-isolation five days could help slow down the virus’s world tour. And remember, folks, dismissing COVID-19 as a washed-up act is as sensible as considering kale optional in your daily diet. This opponent's still swinging, so let’s stay armed and vigilant.