On December 4, Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Chief Medical Officer Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, discussed new quarantine guidance recently issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for those who may have been exposed to coronavirus but are not showing symptoms.
- 10-day quarantine that does not require testing, provided there are no symptoms
- 7-day quarantine if test results are negative, provided there are no symptoms.
ODH, however, continues to recommend a 14-day quarantine for many citizens in Ohio.
“Staying home for 14 days after contact is still the safest way to limit possible spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Vanderhoff. “We continue to recommend this time period for people in congregate living facilities, such as nursing homes; in workplaces with a large number of employees; and in other settings in which COVID-19 could spread extensively. We also recommend 14 days if you are in contact with people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.”
For others with no symptoms, the 10-day period may be sufficient, however, Dr. Vanderhoff recommends that Ohioans consider getting tested on day eight or later to increase certainty of no infection. Quarantine can then end at the conclusion of the 10-day period.
Quarantine can be reduced further to seven days, Dr. Vanderhoff said, if an individual has no symptoms and receives a negative test on day five or later.
“In every case — whether quarantining for 14 days, or 10, or seven — maintain social distance of at least 6 feet and wear a mask when around others,” he said. “You should also keep an eye out for any symptoms for the full 14-day period. If you become sick or test positive for COVID-19, stay home and self-isolate in a separate room from others.”