Tribe Strengthens COVID-19 Quarantine & Isolation Guidelines

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NEW COVID-19 Quarantine & Isolation Guidelines

Effective, 12/23/21

The Suquamish Tribe has updated COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation guidelines in light of recent updates to CDC criteria, increased local positivity rates, and the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive, please contact your health care provider.

COVID Testing – Testing is closed during the Tribe’s Winter Break, through Jan. 3, 2022. Please click here for alternative testing sites.

Testing through Community Health staff will resume Jan. 4,  Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 12 noon without an appointment. Results are typically known within 48 hours. For more information, contact Community Health at 360-394-8469.

What to do while you Quarantine (When you are exposed but have no symptoms of COVID-19)

  1. Fully vaccinated/unvaccinated individuals exposed to a close contact event and who are asymptomatic (no symptoms), must quarantine for 14 days and should complete a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test 3-5 days following.
  2. Fully vaccinated/unvaccinated individuals who remain asymptomatic throughout the duration of their quarantine may leave quarantine on day seven (7) or later at the discretion of the local health jurisdiction, if they:
    • Have received a negative PCR test on day five (5) or later and remain symptom free;
    • Monitor for symptoms and wear a mask when within any indoor setting for the full 14 days;
    • Immediately self-isolate if symptoms develop and get tested with a PCR test;
    • They may leave quarantine on day 10 if no PCR test is performed.
  1. Continue to follow all travel, masking, and physical distancing recommendations. Residents of health care on congregate settings will follow agency policy.
  2. Fully vaccinated/unvaccinated individuals who become symptomatic, should complete a PCR test and immediately self-isolate following the onset of symptoms. Next steps will be determined based on the testing outcome.Fully vaccinated individuals who do not quarantine should wear a mask indoors and when in public spaces for 14 days following Close Contact exposure.

While in Quarantine

  • Monitor for symptoms, fever greater than 100.4° F, cough, shortness of breath, or other COVID-19 symptoms. CDC COVID-19 Self-Checker (Scroll ½ way down page)
  • If possible, stay away from people you live with, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19.

 

After Quarantine

  • Monitor for symptoms for an additional 14 days following exposure.
  • If symptomatic, immediately self-isolate and contact your healthcare provider.

 

What to do while in Isolation (When you separate from others because you are infected and/or have symptoms of COVID-19)

Those in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. At home, anyone sick or infected should separate from others, stay in a specific “sick room” or area, and use a separate bathroom (if available).

  • Monitor for symptoms. If experiencing an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
  • Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible.
  • Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
  • Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets.
  • Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
  • Wear a mask when around other people if able.

Reference: What to do if you are sick and How to notify your contacts.

Definitions

Asymptomatic – Refers to an individual who is infected by the disease but does not display any of the clinical symptoms know to be associated with the disease.
Standard Terminology

Close Contact – Exposure occurs when someone has been within 6 feet of an individual infected with COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. Indirect contact without the combination of close proximity and duration does not constitute close contact exposure.

Fully Vaccinated – Defines an individual who has received their full regiment of vaccine dosages and is at least two weeks post completion of their final vaccination. Though booster vaccinations are not yet considered part of the full vaccination definition, boosters are strongly encouraged.

Infected – An individual who is sick with and/or has tested positive for COVID-19; they may or may not be symptomatic.

Isolation – To physically separate a person infected with COVID-19 from people not infected to prevent the spread of disease; a person need not be symptomatic to warrant isolation.

Quarantine – To separate and restrict the movement of persons who are not symptomatic but may have been exposed to a communicable disease, to prevent close contacts that will spread disease.

Reference

CEMP: Appendix I.2, Isolation & Quarantine Guidelines CDC Quarantine and Isolation Recommendations