The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a new tool on its website last week in hopes of helping people assess and determine if they still need to quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19.
Quarantine After Exposure
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc in many parts of the world, health experts and medical workers expect the general public to do their share in combating the spread of the novel coronavirus. Aside from the safety precautions such as masking, social distancing, and handwashing, they also hope people would be mindful and take it to themselves if they need to stay at home and quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19.
To help people better evaluate the steps they need to take after exposure, the CDC introduced a new tool on its website late last week. Called the Quarantine and Isolation Calculator, the digital instrument is designed to tell people how long they need to quarantine or isolate, so they can help prevent the spread of the viral disease.
“It gives the public a way to walk through what it is that they need to do if they are either exposed or develop COVID-19,” Dr. Wes Stubblefield with the Alabama Department of Public Health told WSFA 12 News of the public health agency’s newest COVID tool.
Who Does Not Need To Quarantine?
Even though the tool would come in handy for everyone who got exposed to someone with COVID-19, there are certain groups of people who do not need to use the calculator and quarantine even if they recently made close contact with a SARS-CoV-2 patient. The CDC made mention of them when it introduced the virtual instrument last week.
According to the CDC, people who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines no longer need to quarantine or stay at home after exposure. Those who had confirmed COVID-19 and tested positive for the virus within the last 90 days are also exempted from quarantining.
However, there are still some caveats. People with up-to-date vaccines should wear a well-fitting mask around others for ten days after exposure or close contact with a COVID-19 patient. They also need to get tested five days after the exposure. They will be required to isolate if they tested positive at this point.
As for those who tested positive and battled the virus within the previous 90 days, they should wear a mask for ten days after making close contact. They do not need to quarantine or get tested if they remain symptom-free after recovering from COVID-19.