In a May 24 CDC Health Alert Network advisory, the agency provided an update on the recurrence of COVID-19 or “COVID-19 rebound” after treatment with Paxlovid. Patients with rebound should re-isolate for at least five days. Paxlovid continues to be recommended for early-stage treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 among persons at high risk for progression to severe disease.

According to the advisory:

Paxlovid treatment helps prevent hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. COVID-19 rebound has been reported to occur between 2 and 8 days after initial recovery and is characterized by a recurrence of COVID-19 symptoms or a new positive viral test after having tested negative. A brief return of symptoms may be part of the natural history of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection in some persons, independent of treatment with Paxlovid and regardless of vaccination status. Limited information currently available from case reports suggests that persons treated with Paxlovid who experience COVID-19 rebound have had mild illness; there are no reports of severe disease. There is currently no evidence that additional treatment is needed with Paxlovid or other anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapies in cases where COVID-19 rebound is suspected.

Read the full advisory, which includes background on Paxlovid and recommendations for health care providers for patients with COVID-19 rebound and patients just diagnosed with COVID-19:  COVID-19 Rebound After Paxlovid Treatment