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When Is COVID-19 Still Contagious?

Because of the positive symptomatic COVID-19 patient in our floor (learned that the quarantined unit is not on our side of the building). been searching how long would the patient be still contagious.  And here's what I've got...

From https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html updated October 19, 2020:

Recommendations

Duration of isolation and precautions

• For most persons with COVID-19 illness, isolation and precautions can generally be discontinued 10 days after symptom onset1 and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of other symptoms.
• A limited number of persons with severe illness may produce replication-competent virus beyond 10 days that may warrant extending duration of isolation and precautions for up to 20 days after symptom onset; consider consultation with infection control experts.
• For persons who never develop symptoms, isolation and other precautions can be discontinued 10 days after the date of their first positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Role of viral diagnostic testing (PCR or antigen)2 to discontinue isolation or precautions

• For persons who are severely immunocompromised, a test-based strategy could be considered in consultation with infectious diseases experts.
• For all others, a test-based strategy is no longer recommended except to discontinue isolation or precautions earlier than would occur under the strategy outlined in Part 1, above.

Role of viral diagnostic testing (PCR or antigen)2 after discontinuation of isolation or precautions

• For persons previously diagnosed with symptomatic COVID-19 who remain asymptomatic after recovery, retesting is not recommended within 3 months after the date of symptom onset for the initial COVID-19 infection.
• For persons who develop new symptoms consistent with COVID-19 during the 3 months after the date of initial symptom onset, if an alternative etiology cannot be identified by a provider, then the person may warrant retesting. Consultation with infectious disease or infection control experts is recommended, especially in the event symptoms develop within 14 days after close contact with an infected person. Persons being evaluated for reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 should be isolated under recommended precautions while undergoing evaluation. If reinfection is confirmed or remains suspected they should remain under the recommended SARS-CoV-2 isolation until they meet the criteria for discontinuation of precautions – for most persons, this would be 10 days after symptom onset and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of other symptoms.
• For persons who never developed symptoms, the date of first positive viral diagnostic test (PCR or antigen) for SARS-CoV-2 RNA should be used in place of the date of symptom onset.

Role of serologic testing

• Serologic testing should not be used to establish the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 infection or reinfection.

posted by ~GFA~ @ 11/14/2020 04:42:00 PM