New York aligns with CDC guidance

NEW YORK STATE--The New York Department of Health amended its guidance last week on COVID isolation protocols based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. These directions went out to local health departments, schools, congregate care settings and healthcare providers. This guidance is again interim direction meaning it could change at any time based on observed conditions.
New York state is experiencing record numbers of COVID-19 cases and extremely high hospitalizations that are stressing the healthcare system and public health response capacity.
On Dec. 24, 2021, NYSDOH issued guidance for shortened isolation for healthcare workers and essential workers. Shortly after, Dec. 27, 2021 the CDC issued updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine for the general population. In subsequent communications, CDC has indicated that additional guidance is forthcoming related to isolation and quarantine for the general population as well as recommendations for certain special settings, such as schools, higher education, and congregate living settings.
Beginning last week the health department decided to fully align with the CDC's rules and has made the following recommendations:
• Isolate for five days, where day zero is the day of symptom onset or (if asymptomatic) the day of collection of the first positive specimen.
• If asymptomatic at the end of five days or if symptoms are resolving, isolation ends and the individual should wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional five days.
• Individuals who are moderately-severely immunocompromised should continue to follow standard (i.e., not shortened) isolation guidance.
• Individuals who are unable to wear a well-fitting mask for five days after a five-day isolation should also follow the not shortened guidance.
-If exposed to COVID-19, quarantine as follows, where day zero is the last date of exposure:
• If not fully vaccinated or fully vaccinated and eligible for a booster but not yet boosted, quarantine for 5 days and wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional 5 days.
• If fully vaccinated and boosted (with the booster at least two weeks before the first date of exposure) or not yet eligible for a booster, no quarantine is required but these individuals should wear a well-fitting mask while around others for 10 days after the last date of exposure.
• If possible, test at day five with either a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT, e.g., PCR) or antigen test.
• If symptoms appear, quarantine and seek testing. In this situation, quarantine would end when the test is negative. If testing is not done, isolate according to the guidance above.
For additional information see https://tinyurl.com/2p99xmv6.