Help! I do not understand all of these new rules related to COVID

I have gotten a lot of phone calls lately to help with all this Corona stuff. So, I put together this sheet of FAQ, to provide a little help with all the new terminology and rules being thrown at you, after all knowledge is power. Our numbers are headed in the wrong direction and we work better together, in fact this is a symbiotic relationship. Healthy you=Healthy me=Healthy Medfield

What happens if I get a positive COVID-19 test?

All test results, both positive and negative, are reported to the Massachusetts DPH. You will be initially be notified of your result from the lab. Then if you have a positive test, the local Public health nurse (PHN) or the Massachusetts Community Tracing Collaborative (State) will reach out to you to provide assistance. They will also ask for help to identify your close contacts. They will then reach out to your close contacts to provide important info about the virus, including how to safely isolate/quarantine and get tested. There tends to be a 48+ hours lag time before you hear from the state or a PHN so it is important if you have school aged children to contact your school nurse and your potential close contacts to prevent further spread. Remember take care of yourself and continue to quarantine.

If I am positive how long do I need to isolate?

You need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days. People who test positive can resume public activities after 10 days and once they have no fever/symptoms for 24 hours (without taking fever-reducing medications like Tylenol) *Repeat testing prior to return is not recommended. Return to school/activities should be based on time and symptom resolution*

What is a close contact?

Close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case should be tested. DPH defines close contact as: Being within 6 feet of COVID-19 case (someone who has tested positive) for at least 10-15 minutes regardless of mask wearing OR Having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case while not wearing a mask. The infectious period begins 2 days prior to symptom onset. If someone is asymptomatic, the infectious period is considered to begin 2 days prior to the collection of their positive test. If you are identified by a friend as a close contact, do not wait to get a call from the local PHN to start isolation because remember it takes time for results to be uploaded and contact tracing to officially begin.

If I am a close contact, why do I have to quarantine for 14 days even with a negative test?

All close contacts should be tested but must self-quarantine for 14 days after the last exposure to the person who tested positive, regardless of test result because the virus can cause illness from 2-14 days after exposure and even asymptomatic individuals can transmit the virus. The virus may take up to 14 days to cause illness.

New DPH guidelines that took effect today 11/18/20

While the initial guidance to quarantine for 14 days after exposure still stands, this additional guidance will allow those who have been exposed to COVID to test out of quarantine after 10 days if they meet ALL of the following parameters:

• They have not had, and do not have, any symptoms of COVID;
• If they are tested on day 8 of their quarantine period or later using a molecular diagnostic test, a PCR test, and receive a negative test result; and
• They must monitor themselves for symptoms for the full 14 days. Any individual that develops symptoms should contact their local health care provider and be re-tested.

What happens if someone I know tested positive and I was with them 3 days prior to their symptom onset and/or positive test?

I get asked this one a lot, the literature does not tend to provide much guidance on this. The magic number is 24 hours prior. What I have been advising friends is to get tested to be safe, watch for symptoms, maintain social distancing and mask wearing and limit social interactions.

Where can I get tested?

The stop the spread initiative provides free reliable testing at a variety of locations and times. The wait times can be long so be prepared for that.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread

There are lots of ways to stay informed!

Medfield has a dashboard of local metrics updated weekly: https://www.town.medfield.net/1917/COVID-19-Data-Dashboard

The Medfield public school system has a dashboard of school related metrics that is also updated weekly:

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/988972/Medfield_Model_-_10-30-20__1_.pdf

Helpful link for school related questions:

https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/faq/returning-to-school-faq.html

More Covid-19 info:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/about-covid-19-testing#what-are-the-symptoms-of-covid-19?-

https://www.mass.gov/guidance/...

We have a light at the end of this tunnel and hopefully a new appreciation for the fragility of our lives. I do.

~All of this above info could change in a minute so continue to watch for updates~

~This is my personal opinion not that of the Board of health I sit on or the hospital I work for~