PA Updates Quarantine Rules, Including For Travel: What To Know

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania has modified its quarantine guidance to align with the new CDC recommendations, shortening the quarantine time for those exposed to COVID-19 to 10 days or seven days with a negative test on or after day five of quarantine.

However, state health officials said in a Health Alert Network notice that the most protective recommended quarantine period remains 14 days post exposure.

Health care providers have been notified of the change, which is effective immediately. The new recommendation also applies to all quarantine orders, including the travel orders issued on Nov. 25 by Health Secretary Rachel Levine.

According to state health officials, the recommendation for a 14-day quarantine was based on the incubation period of the virus. "CDC’s intention with the option to shorten quarantine is to gain better compliance with quarantine and contact tracing activities," according to an announcement from the state health department.

“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.”

The new guidance does not apply to health care settings or those living in certain congregate settings such as nursing homes or prisons, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

“We must stop the spread of this virus and quarantining once you have been exposed is essential,” Levine said. “The incubation period for COVID-19 remains at 14 days and it is still most protective to quarantine for the full two weeks. 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."

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This article originally appeared on the Across Pennsylvania Patch