Information provided by the Cascade Employers Association
In its latest update, the CDC added additional information based on whether you test positive and have symptoms or not.
If you test positive and have symptoms:
- To calculate your 5-day isolation period, day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed. You can leave isolation after 5 full days.
- If an individual has access to a test and wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period. Collect the test sample only if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved (loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation). If your test result is positive, you should continue to isolate until day 10. If your test result is negative, you can end isolation, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public until day 10.
If you test positive and do not have symptoms:
- Day 0 is the day of your positive viral test (based on the date you were tested) and day 1 is the first full day after the specimen was collected for your positive test. You can leave isolation after 5 full days.
- If an individual has access to a test and wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period. If your test result is positive, you should continue to isolate until day 10. If your test result is negative, you can end isolation, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public until day 10.
It’s important to note that a test is not required to end isolation, but optional. Employers still have the choice to have stricter requirements than what is required by the CDC or OHA. OHA is expected to update its guidance this week.
Cascade Employers Association is actively monitoring this issue. You can visit the CEA’s COVID-19 Resource Center for more information and resources.