What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19

What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19

In the past 5 months, KMC Clinic has always discussed Covid-19 and we are always updating the latest situation and the development of coronavirus cases without causing any fear for you all. This week the KMC Clinic will discuss what you should do if you are in contact/exposed with a positive confirmed Covid-19 sufferer.

How do I know if I was exposed? In general, you need to be in close contact with a sick person to get infected. Close contact includes:

• Living in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19,
• Caring for a sick person with COVID-19,
• Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 15 minutes, OR
• Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.)

What should I do if I had close contact with someone with COVID-19 while they were ill but I am not sick?
You should monitor your health for fever, cough, and shortness of breath during the 14 days after the last day you were in close contact with the sick person with COVID-19. You should not go to work or school and should avoid public places for 14 days unless you work in critical infrastructure (see below). You may be contacted for a public health interview.

What should I do if I had close contact with someone with COVID-19 while they were ill but I am not sick and I work in critical infrastructure?
Critical infrastructure includes state & local law enforcement; 911 call center employees; Fusion Center employees; hazardous material responders; janitorial and other custodial staff; and workers in food and agriculture, critical manufacturing, informational technology, transportation, energy, and government facilities. Critical infrastructure workers who had close contact with a COVID-19 case can continue to work as long as they remain well without symptoms and if they take the following measures:

• Pre-screen: have temperature and symptom check daily before starting work
• Wear a cloth face covering: use at all times at work
• Social distance: as much as possible, remain 6 feet from coworkers
• Disinfect and clean workspaces
• Don’t share: headsets, phones, food or drinks

What should I do if I was in close contact with someone with COVID-19 and get sick?
If you were in contact with someone with COVID-19 and get sick with fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19 (even if your symptoms are very mild), you likely have COVID-19. You should isolate yourself at home and away from other people. Contact your healthcare provider, tell them you were exposed to someone with COVID-19, and are now sick, and ask if you can be tested for COVID-19.
Discontinuing home isolation, For sick contacts of COVID-19 patients, discontinue home isolation under the following conditions:

• 3 days with no fever and
• Symptoms improved and
• 10 days since symptoms first appeared

Source:
1.    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick
2.    https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/local-exposure
3.    https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/COVIDexposed