Updated COVID Guidance from the Fairfax County Health Department
We received the following email from the Fairfax County Health Department on July 22, 2022 with the updated guidance below with this FAQ attached.
We will continue to follow the Fairfax County Health Department guidance while choosing to utilize all available mitigation practices, including masking, testing, encouragement to get vaccinated, proper hygiene, and open air.
Good morning,
We would like to bring to your attention some recent changes to COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidance issued by Governor Youngkin that applies to children, teachers, and staff in childcare, K-12 schools, and camp settings. There is a link to view the new guidance in the official press release (see below), it can be accessed here as well. Please follow the link to read the document in full. Below is a quick summary of the changes. We have also attached an updated childcare FAQ for your reference. (Please note that a Spanish translation of the attached FAQ will be sent out to programs as soon as it is available.)
ISOLATION GUIDANCE:
Cases who are unable/unwilling to mask for Days 6-10 can return to the facility if they test negative on or after Day 6.
QUARANTINE GUIDANCE:
Close contacts (regardless of vaccination status) are no longer recommended to quarantine—as long as they remain asymptomatic
Close contacts MAY consider wearing a mask indoors around others until Day 10
If there is ongoing exposure in the household, consider periodic testing
OUTBREAK SETTINGS:
If the school/daycare/camp is experiencing an outbreak that is unusual in size or difficult to control the Health Department may recommend traditional isolation and quarantine measures until the situation is stabilized.
FCHD and the Virginia Department of Health are in the process of updating our guidance in accordance with these changes. Additionally, we are working with VDH to review these recommendations regarding contact tracing in the future but will share that information once it becomes available. FCHD is planning to hold a webinar in early August and will inform you when the date/time is confirmed.
Thank you,
Health Department Contact Division
Fairfax County Health Department
Covid-19 Response Containment Branch
Email: HDContactDivision@fairfaxcounty.gov
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Buenos días
Nos gustaría llamar su atención sobre algunos cambios recientes en la guía de aislamiento y cuarentena de COVID-19 emitida por el gobernador Youngkin que se aplica a los niños, maestros y personal en el cuidado de niños, escuelas K-12 y campamentos. Hay un enlace para ver la nueva guía en el comunicado de prensa oficial (ver más abajo), también se puede acceder aquí . Por favor, siga el enlace para leer el documento completo. A continuación se muestra un resumen rápido de los cambios. También adjunto hemos actualización las preguntas más frecuentes sobre el cuidado de niños para su referencia. (Tenga en cuenta que las preguntas más frecuentes que están adjuntas se enviaran traducidas en español a los programas tan pronto como esté disponible.)
GUÍA DE AISLAMIENTO:
1. Los casos que no pueden o no quieren enmascararse durante los días 6-10 pueden regresar a la instalación si dan negativo en o después del día 6.
GUÍA DE CUARENTENA:
1. Ya no se recomienda poner en cuarentena a los contactos cercanos (sin importar el estado de vacunación), siempre y cuando permanezcan asintomáticos.
2. Los contactos cercanos PUEDEN considerar usar una máscara si están adentro y alrededor de otras personas hasta el Día 10
3. Si hay exposición continua en el hogar, considere realizar pruebas periódicamente
CONFIGURACIÓN DEL BROTE:
1. Si la escuela / guardería / campamento está experimentando un brote que es inusual en tamaño o difícil de controlar, el Departamento de Salud puede recomendar medidas tradicionales de aislamiento y cuarentena hasta que la situación se estabilice.
FCHD y el Departamento de Salud de Virginia están en el proceso de actualizar nuestra guía de acuerdo con estos cambios. Además, estamos trabajando con VDH para revisar estas recomendaciones con respecto al rastreo de contactos en el futuro, pero compartiremos esa información una vez que esté disponible. FCHD planea realizar un seminario web a principios de agosto y le informaran cuando se confirme la fecha / hora.
Gracias
División de Contacto del Departamento de Salud
Departamento de Salud del Condado de Fairfax
Subdivisión de Contención de Respuesta al Covid-19
Correo electrónico: HDContactDivision@fairfaxcounty.gov
Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2022
CONTACTS:
Office of the Governor
Macaulay Porter
Email: Macaulay.Porter@governor.virginia.gov
Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Updated COVID-19 Quarantine Guidance for Early Childhood Education
RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin announced updated guidance on quarantine procedures following exposure to COVID-19 in school, childcare and camp settings. This revised guidance outlines that quarantine is no longer routinely recommended after exposure to COVID-19 infected individuals in childcare, K-12 schools, and camp settings.
Earlier in the year, individuals were encouraged to consider their own risk tolerance and determine what precautions made sense for them and their families. Today, vaccines, tests and treatments continue to be readily available and, at the same time, hospitalization rates are low and the number of Virginians with natural immunity has increased. As such, it is again timely for individuals, families and employers to re-evaluate which precautions are appropriate to them.
“From the first days of my administration, I have supported parents in making informed decisions for their own families, whom they love and know best,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “As Virginians continue to return to the office and social settings, the pandemic is disrupting workplaces and family life when entire childcare facilities, camps and classrooms shutter in response to as few as two cases. Today marks a shift in my administration’s recommendations to optional quarantine for exposure to COVID-19 in childcare and school settings as the severity of the disease decreases.”
While our communities and Commonwealth are learning to live with the pandemic, we recognize that COVID-19 continues to impact many individuals. We are encouraged by our health systems’ continued advancement in both the understanding of, and treatment for, the virus. We will continue to be vigilant about surges or new variants and any impact to our healthcare system. While maintaining that prudence, Virginia’s communities can, and should, continue on a path to normalcy.
View the updated COVID-19 guidance here.
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Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia | P.O. Box 1475, Richmond, VA 23218
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