The Monroe County Department of Health recently announced that it will follow Interim Updated Isolation & Quarantine Guidance issued January 4, 2022 by the New York State Department of Health. This shortens Isolation and Quarantine to 5 days in many instances as described below:
Staff and students who test positive for COVID-19:
- Should isolate for 5 days. This period begins the day after symptoms begin or, if asymptomatic, the day of the COVID test. (i.e., the day symptoms started is Day 0, the next day is Day 1)
- At the end of 5 days, if the staff member or student is asymptomatic, or if symptoms are resolving, the isolation period ends. The staff member or student may return to work or classes on day 6 but must wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional 5 days.
- Staff or students who are moderately-severely immunocompromised should continue to follow the 10 day isolation period.
Staff and students who are exposed to COVID-19:
- If fully vaccinated and boosted (with the booster at least 2 weeks before the first date of exposure), or not yet eligible for a booster, no quarantine is required but wear a well-fitting mask while around others for 10 days after the last date of exposure
- If not fully vaccinated or fully vaccinated and eligible for a booster but not yet boosted, starting with the date of your last exposure which is Day 0, quarantine for the next 5 days and wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional 5 days
- If possible, test at day 5 with either a NAAT/PCR or antigen test
- If symptoms appear, quarantine and seek testing. Quarantine ends if the test is negative or, if no testing is done, isolation according to the above guidelines.