February 16, 2021
UPDATE: Quarantine Recommendations After COVID-19 Vaccination shared by the Healthcare Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania
On February 10, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its quarantine recommendations to reflect COVID-19 vaccination status.
People who are vaccinated against COVID-19 do NOT need to quarantine after an exposure to another person with COVID-19 if they meet ALL of the following criteria:
- They are fully vaccinated (i.e., 2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or 2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine);
- They are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series; AND,
- They have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure.
These criteria can be applied to healthcare providers (HCPs) as a strategy to alleviate staffing shortages but does NOT apply to inpatients or residents in healthcare settings.
Regardless of vaccination status, persons who exhibit new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19 still need to isolate and be evaluated for COVID-19 testing.
Close contacts who have not received vaccine or who do not meet all of the above criteria must follow existing quarantine guidance.
DOH continues to recommend COVID-19 prevention measures such as masking, physical distancing, avoiding nonessential travel, and hand hygiene for all people regardless of vaccination status.
If you have questions about this guidance, please call your local health department or 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258).