March 30, 2022 // by Needham Pediatrics
Updates in COVID-19 Guidance
Hi everyone. The CDC recently announced changes to current guidelines for quarantine following an exposure or a positive test result, which have also now been adopted by the Massachusetts Department of Health. The information regarding this update is included below to aid as a review. Our phone nurses have been receiving a very large call volume recently regarding COVID exposures and positive tests. This is resulting in longer than normal wait times to receive a call back. We hope reviewing the information below may help answer common questions about quarantine, but you can always call the office if you have further questions or concerns.
Exposure
- Close contact definition: Someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. For example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes.
- For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days.
- Testing day 5 after exposure is recommended. (Day 0 is the day of exposure).
- If you develop symptoms at any time during the 10 days after exposure, you should immediately isolate until you have a COVID test confirming you are negative. If positive follow guidelines below.
- Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure and test on day 5 if possible.
Positive test
- People who test positive (PCR or home test) should isolate for 5 days and, if no symptoms on day 5 (and at least 24 hours fever free), they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 additional days to minimize the risk of infecting others. If symptoms are present at day 5, isolation period remains 10 days
- For children unable to wear a mask the isolation period remains 10 days.
For more information, click through the link below to our COVID-19 guidelines and FAQ page