The Berrien County Health Department has updated its guidance for members of the general public who have tested positive or been exposed to COVID-19 following recent changes to recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Under the new guidance, the isolation and quarantine periods are reduced by half to five days for individuals who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 or have not received a booster. The new guidelines do not apply to individuals in congregate living settings or schools, including early child care and K-12 settings, or those who work with high-risk groups. These individuals should continue to follow current guidelines for quarantine and isolation.
The updated guidelines for individuals of the general public who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, are:
- Isolate for five days.
- Leave isolation after five days only if asymptomatic.
- Continue to wear a mask for an additional five days.
The new guidelines for individuals who are exposed to someone with COVID-19 are:
- Unvaccinated individuals or vaccinated individuals who received their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine more than six months ago or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than two months ago and have not received a booster should quarantine for five days, followed by mask usage for another five days.
- Individuals who have received a COVID-19 booster do not need to quarantine following an exposure but should wear a mask for 10 days following the exposure.
- All individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, should test five days after exposure.
- Anyone who experiences symptoms during quarantine should be tested for COVID-19 and stay home until receiving a negative test.
“These updated guidelines reflect what we know about the spread of the virus and the omicron variant as well as the protection offered by vaccines and face masks,” said Acting Health Officer Guy Miller. “We strongly encourage community members to get vaccinated and boosted, follow isolation and quarantine guidelines and stay home if they are not feeling well. Guidance will continue to evolve as we continue to learn more about COVID-19, monitor its spread and talk with our community partners.”
Community members who have questions about COVID-19 are encouraged to call BCHD’s hotline toll-free at 800.815.5485 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information about BCHD’s COVID-19 response, visit bchdmi.org/covid19.
