LOC News
OHA Updates Quarantine Guidance
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has updated its quarantine advice to reflect current guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A person who has been exposed to the virus will need to quarantine if they have spent more than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period in close proximity (less than 6 feet away) to an infected individual. Quarantine is defined as keeping someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others.
If a person has been near someone with COVID-19 they should stay home and at least six feet away from others, including the people they live with, for 14 days.
A 14-day quarantine is the safest option to prevent the spread of COVID-19 . If the person has not had any symptoms, they may consider ending quarantine early:
- After 10 days, without any testing; or
- After seven days, if they have had a negative result from an antigen or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that was administered less than 48 hours before they end quarantine.
If they choose to shorten their quarantine period, there is a small chance they may spread the disease to others post-quarantine, so it is critical that they continue monitoring their symptoms for 14 days.
If the person does develop symptoms, they should continue to avoid contact with others and call their healthcare provider to discuss testing.
The temporary infectious disease rules issued by Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration require employers to keep employees advised to isolate and quarantine from the workplace, but does not specify a length of time for that removal. The decision to end a quarantine based on the above parameters is the decision of the individual but does not mandate an employer to allow a return to the workplace. Cities should consult their city attorney or local public health authority for guidance in such situations.
Contact: Scott Winkels, Lobbyist - swinkels@orcities.org
Last Updated 12/11/20
Related Resources
- OSHA Approves Temporary Infectious Disease Rules LOC Bulletin (Nov. 13, 2020)
- Coronavirus City Resource Center