Today, the Monroe County Health Department has changed quarantine and isolation rules to follow those of the CDC. If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19 you need to quarantine. If you test positive for COVID-19, you need to isolate.
The guidance for those who test positive is as follows:
- For the general population: Five days of isolation where the day of symptom onset is day zero for symptomatic people and the day the positive sample was collected for asymptomatic people, followed by five days of wearing a well-fitting mask, so long as symptoms are at least resolving by the end of the five days of isolation.
- For the moderately-severely immunocompromised: Continue to follow the standard, not shortened guidance.
- For those unable to wear a well-fitting mask for five days after a five-day isolation: Continue to follow the standard, not shortened guidance.
The guidance for those who were exposed to COVID-19 is as follows:
- For those who are fully vaccinated but have not had a booster shot and are eligible for one: Quarantine for five days and wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional five days.
- For those who are fully vaccinated and boosted, or fully vaccinated but ineligible for a booster shot: No quarantine required, but they should wear a well-fitting mask while around others for 10 days after the last date of exposure.
- For both: Test at day five if possible or if symptoms appear.
Also, a CDC panel has recommended a Pfizer booster dose for 12 year olds and up 5 months after your 2nd dose. Full CDC approval is expected and we are gearing up to handle requests for these doses.