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Quarantine guidelines changed

ESCANABA — In an effort to maintain consistency of local health department quarantine guidance for individuals identified as close contacts to someone with COVID-19, Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties (PHDM) is moving back to 10 days of active monitoring for quarantine effective immediately. This also applies to individuals currently quarantined for exposure to COVID-19 who were originally given a 14-day quarantine period.

Anyone identified as a close contact to someone with COVID-19 must quarantine for 10 days and may resume normal activities on days 11 through 14. However, they must continue to self-monitor for symptoms on days 11 through 14 and immediately isolate and notify the health department if symptoms develop.

The purpose of quarantine is to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others to help prevent spread that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in quarantine must stay home, separate themselves from others — including other household members, when possible — and monitor their health for symptoms.

“We understand that frequent changes in quarantine length may be confusing and frustrating. We hope that taking this measure to reduce the length of quarantine will make it easier for residents of Delta and Menominee Counties to comply with quarantine and slow the spread of COVID-19,” states Michael Snyder, PHDM Health Officer.

If you are currently in quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19 and need assistance determining the new date you may resume normal activities, call the health department at 906-786-4111 during normal business hours.

PHDM encourages everyone who is currently eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, call the Delta County office at 906-786-4111 or the Menominee County office at 906-863-4451. Many local healthcare providers and pharmacies also have COVID-19 vaccines available.

Getting vaccinated is not only important for protecting yourself and your friends and neighbors, it also has the benefit that people who are fully vaccinated and are later exposed to someone with COVID-19 are exempt from quarantine. Fully vaccinated means that at least two weeks have passed since you received the second dose of a two-dose series or one dose of a single-dose vaccine.

In addition to getting vaccinated, members of the public are asked to continue to wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth to help protect themselves and others, stay six feet apart from others who do not live with them, avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces, and wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

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