Health departments reduce COVID-19 exposure quarantine time to 10 days
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and last updated 2021-04-30 10:23:03-04
WEST MICHIGAN â The Kent County and Ottawa County health departments are changing their quarantine guidelines for people exposed to COVID-19 to align with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols.
Effective immediately, the new guidance shortens the quarantine period for exposed people from 14 days to 10 days, according to a news release Friday.
The previous 14-day quarantine period was based on the full incubation period of the virus.
However, data shows 90 to 99% of COVID-19 infections happen within 10 days of exposure.
Residents can be released from quarantine after 10 days â without testing â if they conduct daily symptom monitoring through day 10 after the last exposure and they do not have any symptoms or clinical evidence of the virus.
Staff will give the last first dose of the Pfizer shot at the Orange County Convention Center vaccination site on May 5.
Orange County Health Department Medical Director Dr. Raul Pino says the decision was made for two reasons.
First, the vaccination strategy is transitioning from large, mass distribution events to smaller sites in the community.
Second, he says the convention center needs space to hold more events.
“But I want our community to know, this is such an important asset in our community to have. And the employees there are such great people to work with that we can’t find the words to be thankful enough.”
lbowers@miningjournal.net
ISHPEMING The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services found multiple deficiencies in an Ishpeming nursing home’s attempt to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The MDHHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services conducted a survey of Mission Point Nursing and Rehabilitation Center “for the purpose of COVID-19-focused infection control” from Nov. 12 through Nov. 25.
Mission Point has reported that 49 residents have tested positive since Nov. 2, one resident remains hospitalized and nine have died, based on a Dec. 18 statement to The Mining Journal.
According to an MDHHS report based on observations, interviews and record review, the Ishpeming facility “failed to maintain infection control program practices to prevent continued spread of COVID-19 within the facility.”
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