02/12/2021-Updates on Quarantine Requirements for Vaccinated Persons & COVID-19 Rapid Testing Instructions

| February 12, 2021

Contact: Melissa Sixberry, Director of Disease Control                                                                              509-249-6509

**Clinical leadership is expected to schedule time to review guidelines with staff**

 

Provider Alert: Updates on quarantine requirements for vaccinated persons and COVID-19 rapid testing instructions.

 

February 11, 2021

Requested Actions

  • Vaccinated persons with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet CDC criteria.
  • Persons who do not meet all of the criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance after exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
  • Fully vaccinated persons who do not quarantine should still watch for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days following an exposure. If they experience symptoms, they should be clinically evaluated for COVID-19, including SARS-CoV-2 testing, if indicated.
  • At this time, vaccinated persons should continue to follow current guidance to protect themselves and others and follow any applicable workplace or school guidance, including guidance related to personal protective equipment use or SARS-CoV-2 testing.
  • All providers performing rapid (POC) testing need to send results to WA State DOH following the instructions on the DOH website.

Background

While mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated high efficacy at preventing severe and symptomatic COVID-19, there is currently limited information on how much the vaccines might reduce transmission and how long protection lasts. In addition, the efficacy of the vaccines against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants is not known. At this time, vaccinated persons should continue to follow current guidance to protect themselves and others.

However, vaccinated persons with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria†:

  • 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)
  • Are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series
  • Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure

Persons who do not meet all 3 of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance after exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

Fully vaccinated persons who do not quarantine should still watch for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days following an exposure. If they experience symptoms, they should be clinically evaluated for COVID-19, including SARS-CoV-2 testing, if indicated. In addition, vaccinated persons should continue to follow current guidance to protect themselves and others, including all other SARS-CoV-2 testing recommendations and requirements, and state, territorial, tribal, and local travel recommendations or requirements. For additional considerations regarding quarantine or work restrictions for fully vaccinated healthcare personnel, patients, or residents in healthcare settings, please see CDC clinical considerations.

These quarantine recommendations for vaccinated persons, including the criteria for timing since receipt of the last dose in the vaccination series, will be updated when more data become available and additional COVID-19 vaccines are authorized.

COVID-19 Rapid Testing

All providers performing rapid (POC) testing need to make sure that results are sent to WA State DOH following the instructions on the DOH website.

Reporting forms are also found on this page. These reporting forms should be sent directly to DOH either by fax or secure email (both are listed on this page as well).

 

Additional resources