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COVID-19 Alert for Healthcare Providers

COVID-19: Update Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Exposed Persons – Quarantine

Posted March 2, 2021. Past health advisories and alerts are archived for historical purposes and are not maintained or updated.


The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced the following updated quarantine guidance for fully vaccinated close contacts of persons with COVID-19 infection:

Vaccinated individuals with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all the following criteria: [i]

  • Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine); and
  • Are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series; and
  • Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure; and
  • Are not inpatients or residents in a healthcare setting.

NOTE:

  • Fully vaccinated people who do not quarantine should still watch for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days following an exposure.
  • If symptoms develop, seek healthcare for COVID-19, including SARS-CoV-2 testing, if indicated.
  • Continue to follow all travel, masking, and social distancing recommendations.
  • Vaccinated inpatients and residents in a healthcare setting should continue to quarantine following an exposure.

Guidance for fully vaccinated healthcare personnel:[ii]

  • Fully vaccinated healthcare workers with a higher risk exposure should be excluded from work for 14 days.[iii]
  • Under contingency strategies, asymptomatic health care workers with a higher risk exposure may return in less than 14 days, prioritizing those who are fully vaccinated over those who have not been.

[i] Washington State Department of Health. COVID-19 Infection – Case and Contact Investigation. https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/5100/420-107-Guidance-COVID-19-Case&ContactInvestigation.pdf

[ii] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Interim Clinical Considerations for Us of MRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html#phrecs

[iii] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Interim U.S. Guidance for Risk Assessment and Work Restrictions for Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure o SARS-CoV-2.Interim U.S. Guidance for Risk Assessment and Work Restrictions for Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 | CDC