As 2022 kicks off we find ourselves battling through yet another COVID surge due to the most recent COVID variant. Many of the calls we receive at Abington Pediatrics are to discuss quarantine/isolation procedures for patients who have tested positive for COVID or for patients who have been a close contact with a COVID-positive individual. In an attempt to better serve you, we are posting the protocol for quarantine/isolation in accordance with the most recent CDC recommendations. We are also posting worrisome signs and symptoms that would require a call to the office. 

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*You quarantine when you might have been exposed to the virus and may or may not have been infected 

*You isolate when you are sick or when you have been infected with the virus, even if you don't have symptoms 

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Positive COVID Test 

(Please note, a positive rapid antigen test does not need to be confirmed with a PCR or molecular test)

 

Guidelines:

1. Stay at home for 5 days. The first day of symptoms or date of positive test is "day zero".

2. If you have no symptoms, or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house on day 6 but must wear a mask for an additional 5 days. This should be both within and outside the home.  

   1. If you are unable to wear a mask, you must isolate at home for a total of 10 days. ​

3. If you have a fever on or after day 5, continue to stay at home until your fever has resolved for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication (i.e. Tylenol)

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(The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education agrees with the above isolation guidelines and does not require a negative test to return to school)

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Close Contact with COVID-Positive Individual - Fully Vaccinated 

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Fully vaccinated = 3 doses of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine OR 2 doses of the J&J vaccine (or 1 J&J and 1 Pfizer/Moderna) OR 2 doses of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months OR 1 dose of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months)

 

Guidelines: 

1. Wear a mask around others (including at home) for 10 days

   1. If you are unable to wear a mask, you must isolate at home for a total of 10 days​

2. Test on day 5

   1. Negative rapid antigen test should be confirmed with PCR ​

   2. Positive rapid antigen test do not need confirmation 

3. If you develop any symptoms, get tested and stay home

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Close Contact with COVID-Positive Individual - Not Fully Vaccinated

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Guidelines:

1. Stay at home for 5 days. After that, continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.

2. If you cannot quarantine, you must wear a mask for 10 days

3. Test on day 5, PCR preferred 

4. If you develop any symptoms, get tested and stay home 

 

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Continuous Exposure

If your exposure is continuous and you are unable to separate from someone who has COVID, you are being exposed to COVID on a daily basis - this makes the quarantine period longer since your date of last exposure if constantly changing.

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For example, if a mother tests positive for COVID and is unable to separate from her baby, the baby is being exposed to COVID on each day the mother remains infectious (10 days from symptom onset or positive test result). The baby then needs an additional 10 days of quarantine starting when the mother is no longer assumed to be infectious. In this example, the baby should be tested 5 days after the mother is no longer infectious and needs to quarantine for 20 days total.

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Reasons to call the office for guidance: 

1. Chest pain

2. Shortness of breath, labored breathing

3. Concerns for dehydration 

4. Changes in mental status (extreme fatigue, irritability)

5. Fever > 101 for more than 3 days in a child younger than 2 years of age

6. Fever > 101 for more than 5 days in a child 2 years of age or older

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Cardiac Clearance for Return to Play 

Call the office to schedule telemedicine or office visit 

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**For information regarding when your child can return to school in any of the above scenarios, we recommend that you contact your child's school nurse as each school has the ability to adopt different guidelines and requirements

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