• Please be advised that the below information is guidance from the CDC; you should continue following the quarantine rules of your local or state health department. More information on Broome County and New York rules is available here: https://www.gobroomecounty.com/hd/coronavirus/faq; https://forward.ny.gov/; https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home

• On December 2, 2020, the CDC updated its guidance on when to quarantine if you might have been exposed to COVID-19, including new alternatives to the 14 day quarantine
• This updated guidance includes:
o Who needs to quarantine? People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 – excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months

• People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again
• People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms

o What counts as close contact?

• You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
• You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
• You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
• You shared eating or drinking utensils
• They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you

o Steps to Take: stay home and monitor your health

• Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19
• Watch for fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19
• If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting sick from COVID-19

o Options to Reduce Quarantine

• Local public health authorities make the final decisions about how long quarantine should last in the communities they serve, based on local conditions and needs. Follow the recommendations of your local public health department if you need to quarantine.
• The CDC now recommends two additional options for how long quarantine should last. Based on local availability of viral testing, for people without symptoms quarantine can end:

                       • On day 10 without testing
                       • On day 7 after receiving a negative test result

• After stopping quarantine, people should:

                      • Watch for symptoms until 14 days after exposure
                      • If they have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact their local public health authority or healthcare provider
                      • Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from others, wash their hands, avoid crowds, and take other steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19
• For more information, please see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html
• For more information on options to reduce quarantine, please see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-options-to-reduce-quarantine.html
The Attorneys in the Labor and Employment Practice Group at Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP are available to provide advice and counsel concerning matters related to COVID-19.