Covid-19 Updates 10/18/2022

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reduced the isolation requirements for those with positive test results, exposure to those who are positive, and no longer includes vaccination status in outlining action steps. As a result, our agency guidelines have been updated accordingly.

We primarily utilize the CDC for our guidelines, but in some cases we may choose to deviate from them. Our primary goal is to keep the workplace safe for employees and clients, so depending on the circumstances, we make decisions that are appropriate at that time. In all cases, please make sure to contact your supervisor if you have symptoms or test positive, or if you have any questions.

We still have some at home tests we can make available for staff and clients, so if you have a need please ask your supervisor to contact Melissa or Rich and we will fix them up.

 

 

If you were exposed to COVID-19

• Start precautions immediately.
• Wear a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed

Follow these steps, regardless of your vaccination status or if you have had a previous infection.

1. Start counting from Day 1
   • Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19
   • Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure
2. Days 2-5
   • Continue precautions
     • Wear a high-quality mask or respirator any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public¹
     • Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.
     • Take extra precautions if you will be around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19
   • Watch for symptoms
     • fever (100.4°F or greater)
     • cough
     • shortness of breath
     • other COVID-19 symptoms
   • If you develop symptoms
     • isolate immediately
     • get tested
     • stay home until you know the result
     • If your test result is positive, follow the isolation recommendations.
3. Day 6
   • Get Tested
     • Get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure
     • Test even if you don’t develop symptoms.
       • stay home until you know the result
     • If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see specific testing recommendations.

 

IF YOU TEST– Negative

Continue taking precautions through day 10

• Wear a high-quality mask when around others at home and indoors in public
• You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.

 

IF YOU TEST– Positive

• Isolate immediately
• Stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home.
• You arelikely most infectious during these first 5 days.

 

When you have COVID-19, isolation is counted in days, as follows:

If you had no symptoms

Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result)

Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested

If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset

 

If you had symptoms

Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive

Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started

 

 Isolation

If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home.

You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.

 

Follow these steps during isolation.

Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.

Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. For travel guidance, see CDC’s Travel webpage.

Do not travel.

Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.

Use a separate bathroom, if possible.

Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.

Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.

Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.

Learn more about what to do if you have COVID-19.

 

Ending Isolation

End isolation based on how serious your COVID-19 symptoms were. Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.

If you had no symptoms	You may end isolation after day 5.       Continue to wear a mask through day 10
If you had symptoms and Your symptoms are improving	You may end isolation after day 5 if: You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). Continue to wear a mask through day 10
If you had symptoms and Your symptoms are not Improving	Continue to isolate until: You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). Your symptoms are improving. Continue to wear a mask through day 10
If you had symptoms and had Moderate illness (you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing)	You need to isolate through day 10. Continue to wear a mask through day 10
If you had symptoms and had Severe illness (you were hospitalized) or have a weakened immune system·	You need to isolate through day 10. Continue to wear a mask through day 10 Consult your doctor before ending isolation. Ending isolation without a viral test may not be an option for you.

 

After you have ended isolation, if your COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, restart your isolation at day 0.

Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about your symptoms or when to end isolation.