The New York State Department of Health (DOH) has issued revised guidance that greatly reduces the number of days members of the general population must isolate and stay home from work after testing positive for or being exposed to COVID-19.
The January 4, 2021 guidance, which adopts the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) updated COVID-19 isolation and quarantine recommendations, supersedes the DOH’s previous December 24, 2021 guidance (summarized here), with the exception of guidelines directed specifically towards health care workers. The CDC’s recommendations were issued on December 27, 2021.
Isolation (Tested Positive for COVID-19)
Individuals who test positive for the COVID-19 virus should follow these steps before returning to work:
- Isolate for five (5) days, where day zero (0) is the day the individual first experiences symptoms or, if asymptomatic, the day the individual took their positive test.
- If asymptomatic at the end of five (5) days (or if symptoms are “resolving”), isolation ends and the individual may return to work.
- The individual should wear a well-fitting mask while around others for the next five (5) days.
The above guidelines apply to the general population, regardless of an individual’s vaccination status.
However, these guidelines do not apply to individuals who are (a) moderately-to-severely immunocompromised or (b) unable to wear a well-fitting mask for five (5) days after the five-day isolation period. Those individuals should generally continue to isolate for a minimum of 10 days.
Quarantine (Exposed to COVID-19)
Individuals who are exposed to the COVID-19 virus should follow these steps before returning to work, depending on their vaccination status:
- If not fully vaccinated – Quarantine for five (5) days and wear a well-fitting mask while around others for five (5) days.
- If fully vaccinated and eligible to obtain the booster shot (but have not yet done so) – Quarantine for five (5) days and wear a well-fitting mask while around others for five (5) days.
- If fully vaccinated and not eligible to obtain the booster shot – No quarantine required, but must wear a well-fitting mask while around others for 10 days after the last date of exposure.
- If fully vaccinated and received the booster shot (with the booster obtained at least two weeks before first date of exposure) - No quarantine required, but must wear a well-fitting mask while around others for 10 days after the last date of exposure.
Individuals who are exposed to the COVID-19 virus are encouraged to obtain a PCR or antigen (rapid) test on day five (5) of exposure. If symptoms appear, an individual should quarantine and seek testing. If the test is negative, quarantine ends.
If testing is not done (or if an individual tests positive), they should isolate according to the guidance above.
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