Media Contact: Kelli Hawkins | khawkins@srhd.org | (509) 324-1539, c (509) 994-8968

SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) is adopting the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to reduce quarantine for people who have been exposed to COVID-19.

SRHD still recommends a quarantine of 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. SRHD is updating guidance to allow for quarantine to end after 10 days if the person who is in quarantine has no symptoms and the individual adheres to strict masking and distancing and continues symptom monitoring through Day 14.

SRHD is not recommending the reduced quarantine option of seven days with a negative test due to very high incidence rates in the community. Guidance will be reviewed every two weeks to determine relevancy.

SRHD health officials say there is a small chance that people who choose to shorten their quarantine period may transmit the infection to others post-quarantine. Therefore, it is critical that the person who has been in quarantine continues to monitor their symptoms and wear a mask through Day 14. If they develop symptoms, they should isolate themselves to avoid infecting others and get tested.

Quarantine is used to reduce the risk that infected people might unknowingly transmit infection to others. It also ensures that people who become symptomatic during quarantine can be rapidly be tested

SRHD officials agree with DOH and CDC that a 14-day quarantine can impose personal burdens that may affect physical and mental health as well as cause economic hardship. This change in guidelines is meant to help reduce that burden, while continuing to keep our community safe.