No Change in Quarantine Recommendations from CCPHC

On December 7, the Clay County Public Health Center issued a statement that said it is unable to support the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s revised guidance that provides two shorter quarantine options. Although the CDC still recommends the full quarantine 14 days after exposure, it released options with stipulations for symptoms and testing results on December 2.

Not supporting CDC guidance, the Clay County Public Health Center continues to recommend that any person who has been exposed to the virus isolate for the full 14 day period

The first option in the revised CDC update explains that a close contact person exposed to COVID may end their quarantine after 10 days if they have no symptoms. However, the CDC says they must continue to wear a mask and monitor for symptoms for the full 14 day time period. If at any time during that 14-day timeframe, a person develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should isolate and get tested.

The second CDC option describes how quarantine can be ended on Day 7 after exposure. It states that when diagnostic testing options are sufficient and available, the quarantine can end after Day 7 if a diagnostic specimen tests negative and if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring.

According to the CDC, an exposed person may be tested within 48 hours before the time of planned quarantine discontinuation, but quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than Day 7.

“Testing for the purpose of earlier discontinuation of quarantine should be considered only if it will have no impact on community diagnostic testing. Testing of persons seeking evaluation for infection must be prioritized,” according to the CDC guidelines.

The Clay County Public Health Center stated in an announcement today that it does not support this second option at this time due to “not having sufficient testing capacity available. To attempt to do so at this time would have an adverse impact on our community diagnostic testing efforts.” However, the Health Center has posted notifications on its Facebook page of daily free testing locations around the county.

The Clay County Public Health Center continues to recommend that any person who has been exposed to the virus isolate for the full 14 day period. “We agree with the CDC that the preferred length of quarantine remains 14 days after exposure. Research continues to identify that length as the safest option. We encourage anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 to stay home. Individuals who are asymptomatic should wait at least 7 days after exposure to get tested. As always anyone with COVID symptoms should be tested if possible.”

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story