Pa. health officials bring quarantine guidance in line with shortened CDC timeframe

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Friday updated guidance for residents who might have been exposed to covid-19, retooling the quarantine timeframe to fall in line with new measures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC earlier this week indicated that those potentially exposed to the virus should quarantine for 10 days rather than 14 days, as has been the guidance since the pandemic began. Potential exposures can also opt for a seven-day quarantine if they have a negative test after the first five days.

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said the change is effective immediately but “does not apply to health care settings of those living in certain congregate settings.”

Quarantining after a possible exposure, she said, is essential to slowing the spread of the virus.

“The incubation period for covid-19 remains at 14 days and it is still most protective to quarantine for the full two weeks,” she said. “However, the CDC has affirmed that quarantine can end after 10 days if the person doesn’t develop symptoms, or after seven days if the person tests negative and has no symptoms.”

Levine said the new recommendations apply to all quarantine orders, including the travel orders that dictate those traveling to Pennsylvania from out of state either receive a negative test before arrival or quarantine upon their arrival.

“If you have been identified as a close contact to someone diagnosed with covid-19, are in quarantine and have no symptoms, you may get a test as soon as your fifth day of quarantine. If the results are negative you may end your quarantine after the seventh day of quarantine,” Levine said. “However, you will need to wait for a negative test result to stop quarantining. Providers should know that people seeking tests who are symptomatic should be placed above those seeking tests to shorten their quarantine.”