According to updated protocols established by the league's COVID-19 Medical Advisory Committee and issued on Thursday, the Pac-12 has reduced its recommended isolation period to five days following a positive COVID-19 test.
The change reflects the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and follows the ACC and SEC, which took the same steps. The Big Ten and Big 12 have yet to make public the decision to shorten the duration of their separation.
According to the update to the Pac-12, which is effective Friday, asymptomatic individuals can come out of isolation after five days, but must continue to wear masks around others for an additional five days. Symptomatic individuals will have to be isolated for at least five days and continue until they are fever free for 24 hours and symptoms improve. They can then come out of isolation, but must continue to wear a mask for at least 10 days after their initial symptoms.
After isolation, student-athletes can return to athletic activities without a mask if they have a negative PCR test or two negative antigen tests 24 hours apart.
The Pac-12 also states that vaccinated and aggravated individuals do not need to be quarantined, but must wear a mask for 10 days – until they can test it. Non-vaccinated individuals have to quarantine for five days, followed by five days of masking when they are around others.
The league said its updates are "minimum recommendations" and that each school must continue to comply with federal, state and local regulations, which can be stricter.