The Platte County Health Department this week released its recommendations in the wake of a change to quarantining procedures announced by the Centers for Disease Control.
On Wednesday, Dec. 2, the CDC provided two shorter quarantine options, but stated that “Local public health authorities determine and establish the quarantine options for their jurisdictions.”
While the preferred length of quarantine remains at 14 days based on local circumstances and resources, the following two options to shorten quarantine are acceptable alternatives.
Quarantine can end after day 10 without testing and if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring.
When diagnostic testing resources are sufficient and available then quarantine can end after day seven if a diagnostic specimen tests negative and if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring.
An important consideration of the revised guidance is to take into the account the local prevalence of COVID-19 and testing capacity. While the needs and conditions of KC Metro jurisdictions vary, the health department staff agrees with the CDC that the preferred length of quarantine remains 14 days after exposure. Research continues to identify that length as the safest option.
The Platte County Health Department urges those who have been exposed to COVID-19 to stay home, and follow this guidance for testing:
Those without symptoms should wait for at least seven days to be tested.
Those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should get tested as soon as possible.
After review of the ongoing high community prevalence of COVID-19 in Platte County and the fact that there is not sufficient testing capacity available, the health department supports the following quarantine guidelines as outlined by the CDC:
The preferred length of quarantine remains 14 days after exposure.
Based on the December 2, 2020 CDC update, as a close contact, quarantine may end after 10 days for those with no symptoms, but the contact must continue to wear a mask and monitor for symptoms daily for the full 14-day time period following exposure. If at any time during that 14-day timeframe the contact develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should isolate and get tested as soon as possible.
Masking and symptom monitoring for full 14 days are required even for those able to end the quarantine early based on this new option.
For those unable to wear a mask (in general or for a particular activity), the 14-day quarantine applies.
The Platte County Health Department does not support the test out option for release from quarantine in seven days, due to the high community prevalence and the additional strain on community testing.