New York State Approach to COVID-19 Quarantine
Who does Not Have to Quarantine After Close Contact with Someone With COVID-19?

• Anyone who is up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations:
  • Anyone ages 12 or older and who has received all CDC recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters if eligible and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
  • Anyone ages 5-11 years old who has completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines, including additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
    For more information, please see the current CDC definition of “up to date”.
• Anyone who has confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (tested positive using a viral test, e.g. antigen or PCR).

What To Do if Not Subject to Quarantine:

• Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day 0).
• Get tested at least 5 days after the date of last close contact with someone with COVID-19. If test is positive or COVID-19 symptoms develop, isolate from other people and follow recommendations in the Isolation section of this guidance document.
• Anyone who had COVID-19 within the last 90 days and has since recovered and remained symptom free, does not need to get tested after close contact with someone with COVID-19.
• If an exposed person who does not have to quarantine cannot separate from one or more individuals with COVID-19 who are in isolation (e.g., because the exposed person lives in the same household with a sick individual who needs care), then the exposed person will have ongoing exposure until the infected person is no longer contagious. See detailed testing and mask recommendations in the “Ongoing COVID-19 Exposure FAQs” section of CDC's quarantine and isolation page.
• If an exposed person who does not have to quarantine travels during the 10 days after last close contact, the person should wear a well-fitting mask when around others for the entire duration of travel during the 10 days. Anyone unable to wear a mask should not travel during the 10 days. Travelers should get tested at least 5 days after the date of the last close contact, receive a negative test result before travel or further travel, and be symptom free.

Who Must Quarantine After Close Contact With Someone With COVID-19?

• Anyone who is not  up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.
  • Anyone who is not vaccinated or has not completed a primary vaccine series.
    • See exceptions for school and childcare below.
  • Anyone ages 12 or older who has completed the primary series of recommended vaccine, and is eligible for a CDC recommended booster shot, but has not received it.
    • See exceptions for school and childcare below.
      How to Quarantine
• Stay home and away from other people for at least 5 days (day 0 through day 5) after the date of the last contact with a person who has COVID-19. The date of contact (exposure) is considered day 0.
• Wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home, if possible.
• For 10 days after the date of the last close contact with someone with COVID-19, watch for fever (100.4◦F or greater), cough, shortness of breath, or other COVID-19 symptoms.
• If symptoms develop, get tested immediately and isolate until test results arrive. If test result is positive, follow recommendations in the Isolation section of this guidance document.
• If symptoms do not develop, get tested at least 5 days after the date of last close contact with someone with COVID-19.
  • If test results are negative, quarantine can end, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home and in public until 10 days after the date of the last close contact with someone with COVID-19.
  • If test results are positive, isolate for at least 5 days from the date of the positive test (date of test, not date results received).
  • Quarantined individuals should make every effort to get tested at least 5 days after exposure, even if asymptomatic. If it is not possible to get a test 5 days after the last close contact with someone with COVID-19, quarantine can end after day 5 if there have been NO COVID-19 symptoms throughout the 5-day period. Continue to wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home and in public until 10 days after the date of the last close contact with someone with COVID-19.
  • Avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, and nursing homes and other high-risk settings, until after at least 10 days.
• If possible, stay away from people in the home, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19, as well as others outside the home throughout the full 10 days after the date of the last close contact with someone with COVID-19.
• If a quarantined person cannot separate from one or more individuals with COVID-19 who are in isolation (e.g., because the quarantined person lives in the same household with a sick individual who needs care), then the quarantined person will have ongoing exposure until the infected person is no longer contagious. In this situation, quarantine for the uninfected person continues throughout the isolation period of the individual(s) with COVID-19 and 5 days beyond the last day the infected individual(s) are on isolation. See detailed recommendations in the “Ongoing COVID-19 Exposure FAQs” section of CDC's quarantine and isolation page.
• All children under the age of 2 years, who are not recommended to wear masks, as well as others who cannot wear a well-fitting mask for any reason should continue to quarantine for 10 days. During this time, avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, or living in nursing homes and other high-risk settings.
• Do not travel during the 5-day quarantine period. Before resuming travel, get tested at least 5 days after the date of the last close contact with someone with COVID-19, receive a negative test result, and be symptom free for all 5 days of quarantine. If it is not possible to get a test, delay travel until 10 days after the date of the last close contact with a person with COVID-19. It is best to avoid travel for 10 days after last date of close contact. If travel must occur before the 10 days are completed, continue to wear a well-fitting mask when around others for the entire duration of travel during the 10 days. Anyone unable to wear a mask should not travel during the 10 days.
• Do not go to places where activities prevent mask-wearing, such as restaurants, and avoid eating around others at home and at work until after 10 days after the date of the last close contact with someone with COVID-19.

NYS Health Insurance
New York families who do not have health insurance or have lost coverage can apply through NY State of Health through August 15, 2020. The Website is: nystateofhealth.ny.gov. You must apply within 60 days of losing you coverage. If you need more information, please email Nurse Cordero @ ncordero@eufsd.org

TIPS
The following are some ways to avoid viruses during cold and flu season:

• Avoid exposure – Avoid close contact with people who are sick with fever and cough.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away and wash your hands.
• If someone in your home is sick, clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces such as door knobs and faucet handles with a bleach solution. This is especially helpful during flu season, and any time.
• Stay home when you are ill to avoid exposing others.
• And of course, get a flu shot if you have not already done so.

The following are non-pharmaceutical interventions that we are advised to take during the outbreak of any communicable disease:

1. Stay home when sick
2. Sick students and staff should be excluded from school and all school-related activities - It was noted that schools are not expected to screen students or staff to identify cases of COVID-19.
3. Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
4. Routine cleaning of our schools

Health officials said that if one comes into contact with someone who tested positive, you should:

• You must stay at your residence all the time, during the period you are quarantined. You should avoid having company at your residence, and keep a log (list of names, phone numbers, and addresses) of anyone who goes into or out of your residence while you are under quarantine. Others in your residence are not restricted from their activities.
• You will need to take your temperature with a thermometer twice a day: in the morning and later in the day, and record your temperature in a temperature log.
• You can live with other family members in your home, but you should sleep in a separate bedroom and use a separate bathroom until the quarantine period is over.
• During this time period, you should avoid close contact of social and dining activities. Food should be delivered to your individual quarters.
• You may walk outside your house on your own property, but should not come within six feet of neighbors or other members of the public. You must refrain from walking in your neighborhood.
• Symptoms of COVID-19 include: fever, cough, and / or shortness of breath. If you develop any of these symptoms, you should put on a face mask immediately to prevent other people in your household from becoming sick.
• If you have a true emergency, call 911 and let the person that answers know that you are under quarantine for COVID-19.
• If you have any questions or if you need assistance with daily living (e.g. food, laundry, etc.), you can call 311 and ask for assistance.
• If you have concerns about your employment status, SCDHS can provide you with a letter asking your employer or school to excuse you from work or school.

LINKS

For more information about novel coronavirus, go to:

• www.westchestergov.com/health
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html