The Riley County Health Department says it will adopt the new 10-day quarantine guidelines proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Kansas Department of Health and Environment for close contacts of a COVID-19 positive individual.
The new guidelines take effect Thursday, meaning those in quarantine now and going forward can get out of quarantine after the 10th day if they have not developed COVID-19 symptoms. Riley County will not adopt the alternate 7-day quarantine option.
According to CDC, with the 10-day strategy, residual post-quarantine transmission risk is estimated to be about 1% with an upper limit of about 10%.
Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs says by adopting the reduced quarantine period they hope to reduce the burden on patients and gain more compliance with quarantine orders.
Close contacts are defined as anyone living with the person or stayed overnight for at least one night in the same household; anyone within six feet of the infected person for 10 consecutive minutes or more; or anyone having had direct contact with the infectious secretions of the person.
Household contacts must be quarantined for 10 days after the case has been released from home isolation because exposure is considered ongoing within the house.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Life-threatening symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
*This list is not all possible symptoms. People should call a medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
