With kids back in classrooms and delta still spreading, some common questions are likely to pop up. Dr. Jeff Donowitz, infectious diseases specialist, breaks down the basics of when to test, when to quarantine and what close contact means.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines close contact as “within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, unless you have been fully vaccinated.” The fully vaccinated piece is still in effect, although we know vaccinated people can still be infected and even more so with the delta variant that is now the predominating virus in Virginia and across the U.S.
Exception: In K-12 settings, a student who is within three to six feet of an infected student is not considered a close contact as long as both students wore well-fitting masks the entire time. This exception may also be applied to school buses if seating charts are documented and adherence to seating assignments and mask use is verified.
This is a broad question, but the Virginia Department of Health strongly recommends testing for:
The specifics here depend on the exact situation and this should be discussed with your pediatrician or VDH. Symptomatic untested, confirmed positive and exposed persons all have different quarantine requirements.
This tool from VDH provides further details about when it’s safe to end quarantine. School districts and childcare centers may have additional guidelines, so be sure to check with them about when your child is approved to return.
Although wearing a mask has been proven to decrease transmission of the virus, guidance on testing and quarantine does not take masking into account. It’s best to follow the testing and quarantine guidance above.
No – this can cause ERs to get overwhelmed, not to mention result in a potentially expensive and unnecessary copay! The best thing to do is contact your child’s pediatrician or primary care provider for guidance and testing.
Note: You should contact the pediatrician or seek emergency care if your child has trouble breathing, is lethargic or has trouble staying awake, develops a high fever or has a worsening cough.
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