The Deerfield Clinic nursing team responds to all known cases of COVID-19 by conducting a case investigation and subsequently identifying and notifying any persons exposed to the positive person during the window of contagiousness. Facilitating this valuable process is just one reason why we compel all residents to promptly report the onset of any cold or allergy-like symptoms, and certainly any positive test, to the Deerfield Clinic. The nursing team in the Clinic provides each person with individualized advice, because each situation is somewhat different, and the CDC’s guidance is complex.
Generally, it is not currently required that a person quarantine at home following an exposure to a person who has tested positive for COVID. The exposed person should recognize that, after an exposure to SARS-CoV2, it can take anywhere from 2-14 days to develop COVID and become contagious. Therefore, we recommend that the person wear a mask throughout that 14-day period when in public places. In addition, the person should be tested at intervals recommended by CDC: immediately (but at least 48 hours after exposure) and on or around the 5th day following exposure. Even if these tests are negative, the person should continue to be very vigilant for symptoms and isolate and seek testing should any symptom(s) arise.
Although we all wish that it were, and many of us are going about our lives as if it were so, the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over.