Monroe County adopts shortened COVID-19 isolations and quarantines

Alexandra Weaver
[News10NBC]

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Monroe County will update its COVID-19 protocol to more closely align with new state and federal guidance that shortens many COVID-19 isolations to five days, followed by five days of wearing a well-fitting mask while around others.

On Dec. 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made the change, citing growing evidence that people with coronavirus are most infectious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop.

On Jan. 4, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) more closely aligned its guidance with the CDC’s.

The guidance for those who test positive is as follows:

  • For the general population: Five days of isolation where the day of symptom onset is day zero for symptomatic people and the day the positive sample was collected for asymptomatic people, followed by five days of wearing a well-fitting mask, so long as symptoms are at least resolving by the end of the five days of isolation.
  • For the moderately-severely immunocompromised: Continue to follow the standard, not shortened guidance.
  • For those unable to wear a well-fitting mask for five days after a five-day isolation: Continue to follow the standard, not shortened guidance.

The guidance for those who were exposed to COVID-19 is as follows:

  • For those who are fully vaccinated but have not had a booster shot and are eligible for one: Quarantine for five days and wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional five days.
  • For those who are fully vaccinated and boosted, or fully vaccinated but ineligible for a booster shot: No quarantine required, but they should wear a well-fitting mask while around others for 10 days after the last date of exposure.
  • For both: Test at day five if possible or if symptoms appear.

Monroe County Commissioner of Health Dr. Michael Mendoza shared some more details on the county guidance in a tweet Thursday afternoon.

Monroe County’s full guidance released Thursday is available here.

Read the full NYSDOH guidance below (mobile users, click here):

Nys Updated Isolation Quarantine Guidance 01042022 by News10NBC on Scribd