Gasconade County Health Department issues updated ‘optional’ COVID quarantine protocol

Posted 12/16/20

Due to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) recently revising guidance, the Gasconade County Health Department (GCHD) is issuing the …

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Gasconade County Health Department issues updated ‘optional’ COVID quarantine protocol

Posted

Due to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) recently revising guidance, the Gasconade County Health Department (GCHD) is issuing the following statement regarding new optional guidance for modified quarantine time-frames in this county.

In short, the CDC recommends the 14-day quarantine period should continue to be the standard, but is providing options that can be operated together as a package based upon the level of risk to particular groups or risk-associated categories within a local community.

ASYMPTOMATIC individuals must not have had any symptom at any time during the quarantine period to be eligible for either of these options.

Options to reduce quarantine for contacts of persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection using symptom monitoring, diagnostic testing per CDC

Isolation (for people who are known to have COVID-19): remain isolated from others for AT LEAST 10 days from symptom onset (or positive test if they never developed symptoms). After 10 days, patients are released from isolation, when they are feeling better AND are afebrile (not marked by fever) at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medications.

Quarantine (for people who have been exposed to others with COVID): quarantine period will vary a bit based on several factors:

1. If Close contact is a resident or employee at a skilled nursing/assisted living facility or long-term care facility — 14-day quarantine remains in effect.

2. If Close contact develops ANY symptoms of COVID, at ANY point during their quarantine period, (regardless of testing results) — 14-day quarantine remains in effect and are encouraged to be tested.

3. If a close contact has NOT developed any COVID symptoms and have been quarantined at least 10 days  — they may be released from quarantine but should monitor their symptoms closely for the remaining four days of their original quarantine period, wear a mask when around others and if they develop symptoms, immediately resume quarantine, and are encouraged to be tested.

4. If a close contact has NOT developed any COVID symptoms and have been quarantined at least seven days, they may be released from quarantine (but should monitor their symptoms closely for the remaining seven days of their original quarantine period, wear a mask when around others and if they develop symptoms, immediately resume quarantine, and are encouraged to be tested), if ONE of the following is true:

a. had a negative PCR COVID test collected on or after day five of their quarantine period; or,

b. had a negative antiGEN test collected on or after day seven of their quarantine period.

5. If the close contact resides in a different county than Gasconade county, they will be instructed to follow the county with the most restrictive guidelines or as they are directed by their residing county.

6. Close contacts meeting these optional guidelines and even though released form quarantine must continue to wear appropriate facemasks when around others for the remainder of the original 14- day period.

7. Schools within Gasconade county, as per DHSS guidelines, may utilize their BinaxNOW testing if they approve this method and quarantine reduction by their respective school board or decision-making entity. BinaxNOW testing done by the schools should not be used to test anyone that is not a close contact and asymptomatic as supplies are limited.

The Gasconade County health agency will be evaluating this revised quarantine process moving forward and adjust it as they receive new information.