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Alerts and updates
The new quarantine recommendations apply to all of Pennsylvania quarantine orders, including travel orders issued on November 25, 2020.
In another attempt to encourage Pennsylvanians to adhere to the public health recommendations, on December 4, 2020, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) adopted recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC) that include options to reduce the quarantine period for asymptomatic patients. people exposed to COVID-19. Previously, the CDC and DOH generally recommended that asymptomatic people be quarantined for 14 days after the date of the last exposure.
Effective immediately, and in accordance with the latest DOH Community Health Alert, people in Pennsylvania who have been in close contact (within about 6 feet for a total of about 15 minutes) with someone who has COVID-19 can now end quarantine:
- In Day 10 without testing and if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring. However, it is recommended that symptom monitoring continues until day 14; or
- In Day 7 after receiving a negative test result and if no symptoms were reported during daily follow-up. The sample must be collected and analyzed within 48 hours prior to the planned interruption of quarantinee.g, in anticipation of delays in testing), but quarantine cannot be interrupted before day 7. To interrupt quarantine after day 7, samples must be collected on or after day 5.
Quarantine begins after the date of the last exposure to a person with COVID-19 who is infectious. For people with COVID-19 who cannot isolate themselves from their household members, the quarantine period for household members begins when the case is no longer infectious.
People can suspend the quarantine at the above time points only if the following criteria are also met:
- No clinical evidence of COVID-19 has been obtained by daily symptom monitoring for the entirety of the quarantine until the time the quarantine is suspended;
- Daily monitoring of symptoms continues until day 14 of quarantine; Y
- People are advised on the need to strictly adhere until day 14 after exposure to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions (e.g, masking, physical distancing).
- If any symptoms occur, they should immediately isolate themselves and contact DOH at 1-877-PA-HEALTH, their local health department, or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status.
The new quarantine recommendations apply to all of Pennsylvania’s quarantine orders, including travel orders issued on November 25, 2020. But, Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, cautions that “[t]The incubation period for COVID-19 is still 14 days and it is still more protective to quarantine for the full two weeks. However, the CDC has stated that the quarantine can end after 10 days if the person has no symptoms, or after seven days if the person tests negative and has no symptoms. “
The Ultimate Quarantine Guide no they apply to healthcare or group settings. DOH notes that:
Collective non-healthcare settings such as prisons and shelters continue to follow the recommendations for a 14-day quarantine period. Transmission of COVID-19 within these settings can be difficult to control, and the increased risk of transmission associated with shortened quarantine periods can be problematic in these settings. Other congregational settings, such as college dormitories, may consider implementing the shorter quarantine period, but factors such as mask compliance and the density of living conditions, along with the increased risk of transmission, should be carefully considered before implement a reduced quarantine period. K-12 day care centers and schools may choose to shorten quarantine periods as described above, as long as continuous symptom monitoring for the full 14 days and other non-pharmaceutical interventions (e.g., masking, physical distancing).
What does this mean for employers
Shorter quarantine recommendations for close contacts can allow companies to return employees who were exposed to COVID-19 to the physical workplace more quickly. However, before doing so, employers must ensure that (a) the employee did not experience any COVID-19 symptoms during the shorter quarantine period, and (b) the employee continues to self-manage symptoms throughout the entire 14 period. days after exposure. Employers must also comply with the requirements of local jurisdictions, such as Philadelphia, which still require a longer 14-day quarantine period for asymptomatic close contacts. Additionally, Governor Tom Wolf’s latest Immunity Mitigation, Enforcement and Protection Order requires that, unless impossible, all Pennsylvania businesses must conduct their operations remotely through individual telecommuting. Therefore, despite this updated quarantine guide, as summarized in our Alert, companies operating in person must ensure compliance with the Order’s health and safety requirements, including enforcement of the mask and social distancing requirements.
In particular, life support companies are subject to different guidelines if a worker is exposed to COVID-19. Pursuant to the DOH Health Alert issued on April 19, 2020, workers at life support companies They are not necessary to observe a quarantine period and can continue to work after possible exposure as long as (1) they remain asymptomatic and (2) additional precautions are implemented, including re-examination, monitoring, masking, social distancing, and disinfection / cleaning.
As with much of the changing guidance and orders issued by Governor Wolf and the Secretary of Health offices, employers must carefully examine their operations to ensure they are operating in accordance with applicable quarantine guidelines.
