Quarantine guidelines updated locally after CDC changes recommendations

Local health officials tweaked quarantine orders for residents exposed to the coronavirus Dec. 4 after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidelines last week.

For much of the pandemic, those considered close contacts of an infected individual were to stay in quarantine for two weeks, or 14 days. That time span is thought to match the incubation period for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Now officials say that close contacts can come out of quarantine on the eighth day after exposure so long as they test negative for the virus as of the fifth day — or subsequent days — and experienced no symptoms of the virus. Quarantines cannot end earlier than the eighth day after exposure, officials said.

Those quarantining who want to skip getting tested can end their quarantines on the eleventh day after exposure so long as they showed no symptoms of the virus during the quarantine.

Residents can, of course, quarantine for the full 14-day period. Health officials said waiting out the extra few days maximally reduces the risk of possible transmission of the virus. In some cases, officials said, they will recommend individuals observe the full 14-day quarantine.

Regardless of what day a close contact emerges from quarantine, they are required to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 through the end of the two-week period. They must also abide by restrictions meant to curtail the spread of the coronavirus, such as wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding crowds and following basic hygiene.

In situations where one individual in a household is infected with the virus and other members have constant or repeated close contact, quarantines begin after the patient is considered recovered. For example, parents caring for a child stricken with COVID-19 would formally begin their quarantines after the isolation period for the minor ended.

Health officials directed anyone in the aforementioned scenarios to self-isolate and contact their health care provider or public health personnel upon showing symptoms of COVID-19.

Regardless of the changes to the quarantine procedure, the disease could still present up to 14 days after exposure, officials warned.

The move comes after the CDC updated its recommendations for quarantines. Federal authorities reduced quarantines to 10 days, meaning some people could emerge from it on the eleventh day without a test or seven days (again, meaning the individual could emerge on the eighth day) with a test.

CDC officials said the changes were an attempt to make quarantines less onerous, telling reporters that they recognized a 14-day period hurt people financially and might not be possible for some.

“Reducing the length of quarantine may make it easier for people to take this critical public health action by reducing the economic hardship associated with a longer period, especially if they cannot work during that time,” Dr. Henry Walke told NPR.

Walke serves as the CDC’s incident manager for the COVID-19 crisis.

Like local officials, CDC experts recommend the full 14-day period as the safest way to quarantine. They also urged those exposed to continue monitoring for symptoms for the full two-week period.

As of Dec. 7, 151 Lincoln County residents were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus. Of those, two patients were hospitalized. Overall, the county has seen 845 cases and suffered nine coronavirus-related deaths.