Clark County residents who have been exposed to COVID-19 will now have a shortened quarantine period, in line with new national, state and local guidance.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced options for shortening the recommended 14-day quarantine for people exposed to COVID-19. In a news release Wednesday the Washington State Department of Health and Clark County Public Health adopted the new options for people who do not live or work in high-priority settings.
The new guidelines state that someone in quarantine can end their quarantine after 10 days if they don’t have symptoms at that point. It also allows people to end their quarantine on Day 8 if they receive a negative test and have no symptoms. The person must be tested on or after Day 5 of quarantine and the period should still be a full seven days.
Part of the reasoning behind the new guidelines is that people will be more likely to comply with quarantine precautions if the quarantine period is shortened.
Health officials still recommend that people who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 quarantine at home for 14 days. They should not go to work, school, church or child care, and should avoid public places for 14 days after their last exposure with the person who tested positive.
People who live or work in long-term care facilities, health care facilities, food processing facilities, the jail, schools and child care facilities should still quarantine for 14 days.
There is a small chance that people who shorten their quarantine period may transmit the infection to others post-quarantine.
Anyone who has been in quarantine should continue to monitor their symptoms and wear a face covering around others through Day 14. If they develop symptoms, they should isolate themselves immediately to avoid infecting others and seek testing for COVID-19.
“While a 14-day quarantine for all close contacts is ideal, we recognize the mental, emotional and financial burden a 14-day quarantine may impose on individuals and households,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer. “The options for shortened quarantine for those who do not live or work in high-priority settings aim to lessen those burdens, while also continuing to keep the community safe.”
Additional information about COVID-19 and quarantine of close contacts is available on the Public Health website.
