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MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH – COVID GUIDELINE UPDATES

December 31, 2021
Posted on: December 31, 2021 - 12:45pm

TOWN OF WAYLAND
41 COCHITUATE ROAD
WAYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS 01778


LOUISE L.E. MILLER                                                                           JULIA M. JUNGHANNS   
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR                                                                     HEALTH DIRECTOR
TEL. (508) 358-3620                                                                             TEL. (508) 358-3617
lmiller@wayland.ma.us                                                                         jjunghanns@wayland.ma.us


MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH – COVID GUIDELINE UPDATES


Town of Wayland Health Director Julia Junghanns states, “The guidelines for Covid-19 are evolving as research and treatments improve. It is critically important that residents stay informed along with Covid-19 risk mitigation to keep our community safe.” Our website is currently in the process of being updated with this information.

Below are recent changes in isolation and quarantine periods for the general population issued by the CDC and adopted by the Massachusetts Department of Health on Wednesday December 29, 2021. The Massachusetts Department of Health guidance shortens the recommended time for isolation and quarantine following a Covid-19 exposure. Below is a summary of the latest guidance:

• The duration for isolation for those individuals who are COVID-19 positive has been shortened from ten (10) days to five (5) days. This means that you should stay home for the full five (5) days and away from others within your household. On day six (6) if you are asymptomatic or your symptoms are resolving, you can leave your home and go back to usual activities while continuing to wear a well fitting mask around others for an additional five (5) days.

• For individuals who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and who have completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over six (6) months ago or the J&J vaccine over two (2) months ago but are not boosted, or those who are unvaccinated should quarantine by staying home for five (5) days. Mask wearing, with a well fitting mask, around others from days six (6) through ten (10) must then occur.

• Individuals who have been exposed and have received their booster do not need to quarantine however, they should wear a well fitting mask while around others for ten (10) days after exposure so long as the individual has not symptoms. If individuals become symptomatic, they should quarantine and are strongly encourage to take a SARS-Cov-2 test.

• If quarantine is not feasible, the exposed person should wear a well fitting mask while around others for ten (10) days after their exposure.

• Exposed individuals are strongly encouraged to take a SARS-Cov-2 test after day five (5) of exposure regardless of whether the individual is symptomatic. Preferrably a PCR test.

• Effective immediately, fully vaccinated and boostered, asymptomatic health care providers and health care personnel may return to work five (5) days following a positive COVID test but must follow the mask guidelines.

• The updated isolation guidance applies to K-12 schools. At this time, quarantine guidance for K-12 schools remains unchanged.