SoWashCo To Follow New Rules On COVID-19 Isolation, Quarantine

WOODBURY, MN — South Washington County Schools will follow new public health guidance that shortens the length of coronavirus quarantines and isolation, the district announced Wednesday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reduced its recommendations, based on data that shows the majority of transmission occurs “early in the course of illness.”

The new recommendations say people who are fully vaccinated and boosted do not need to quarantine after they are exposed to the coronavirus, though they should wear masks around others for 10 days after the exposure.

'Forever Chemicals' Force Woodbury To Remove Another Water Well

Quarantine after exposure is also no longer required for anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 through a viral test within the past 90 days.

Those who are not fully vaccinated should quarantine for five days after an exposure, instead of 10 days, according to the new guidance. They should continue to wear a mask around others for five days after quarantine to minimize the risk of spreading the virus, the CDC said.

People who cannot quarantine for five days should wear a well-fitting mask at all times around other people for at least 10 days, according to the CDC.

‘I Made A Terrible Mistake’: MN State Rep Says ‘Sorry’ For DWI

Anyone who has COVID-19 should isolate for five days, the new guidelines state. Those who are asymptomatic or recovered after five days of isolation should wear masks around others for five days, the CDC said.

Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should immediately quarantine until they can be tested, the CDC said.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the updated guidelines for quarantine and isolation “balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses.”

Robbery Suspect Arrested, Linked To Woodbury, Newport Hold-Ups

“The Omicron variant is spreading quickly and has the potential to impact all facets of our society,” Walensky said. “These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives.”

SoWashCo families with students currently in quarantine or isolation should call their school’s health office to determine if they can return to class sooner than initially planned.

Click here for more information about SoWashCo’s quarantine and isolation procedures for students.

This article originally appeared on the Woodbury Patch