(8-16-22) Late last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidance. The new COVID-19 guidelines apply to the general population. The guidelines are as follows:

  • For those with a positive COVID-19 test:
    • Anyone with a positive COVID-19 test result, regardless of vaccination status, should isolate at home for at least 5 days.
    • Isolation may be discontinued after day 5 if the individual is fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms have improved.
      • After ending isolation, individuals should wear a mask in public and around others through for the next 5 days.
      • Individuals may remove their mask sooner if they have 2 negative antigen tests in a row, 48 hours apart.
    • Individuals with a fever or symptoms that have not improved after 5 days of isolation should continue to stay home and isolate until symptoms have improved or resolved.
  • For those exposed to COVID-19, quarantine is no longer part of the recommended guidance. Instead, individuals with a known exposure to COVID-19 should:
    • Wear a mask when in public or around others for 10 days from last exposure.
    • Watch for symptoms, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
    • Take extra precautions around high-risk individuals who are more likely to become ill.
    • Consider getting tested for COVID-19 after 5 days from last exposure.

The last couple of weeks President Biden has tested positive several times for COVID, today his wife Jill did as well. The Biden family was on vacation when she became infected.

For more information or questions regarding COVID-19 guidelines, please call the Mercer County Health District at 419-586-3251 or visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html and/or  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/if-you-were-exposed.html.

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