COVID Quarantine Guidance Changed In VA From CDC Guidance

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health changed its guidance on COVID-19 quarantine and isolation, providing a different recommendation than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The state health department recommends no quarantine after COVID-19 exposure if a person has tested positive and recovered in the last six months or is up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations. However, officials say residents should follow isolation guidance if symptoms appear.

"There is evidence that post-infection immunity may be effective for 6 months or longer," said State Health Commissioner Colin Greene in a statement. "It is time to revisit some of our practices for groups that are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease, especially those whose side effect is a significant limitation of access to daycare, school, or work."

This quarantine recommendation is different from the CDC guidance, which says quarantine is not needed if a person had confirmed COVID-19 in the last 90 days unless symptoms appear. The CDC also says quarantine is not needed if a person is up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations unless symptoms appear.

There is no change to the Virginia Department of Health's isolation guidance. Quarantines refers to staying away from others after being exposed to COVID-19. Isolation is when someone who tests positive with COVID-19 or has suspected COVID-19 symptoms isolates from others.

The new guidance in Virginia only applies to what Greene called "non-high risk situations." The 90-day standard will not change for higher-risk situations, including health care workers, long-term care facilities, correctional facilities and homeless shelters.

Greene says the quarantine recommendations will not change COVID-19 case surveillance for reporting probable or confirmed cases to the CDC.

Virginia's daily COVID-19 case average had been trending up in April to late May, reaching a seven-day average of 3,308 daily cases on May 23, according to Virginia Department of Health data. Cases have started to trend down, reaching an average 2,540 as of Friday.