PA-DOH: Update – Quarantine Recommendations After SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination
- On February 10, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its quarantine recommendations to reflect SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status.
- People who are vaccinated against COVID-19 do NOT need to quarantine after an exposure to another person with COVID-19 if they meet ALL of the following criteria:
o They are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine);
o They are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series; AND,
o They have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure. - These criteria can be applied to healthcare providers (HCPs) as a strategy to alleviate staffing shortages but does NOT apply to inpatients or residents in healthcare settings.
- Regardless of vaccination status, persons who exhibit new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19 still need to isolate and be evaluated for COVID-19 testing.
- Close contacts who have not received vaccine or who do not meet all of the above criteria must follow existing quarantine guidance.
- DOH continues to recommend COVID-19 prevention measures such as masking, physical distancing, avoiding nonessential travel, and hand hygiene for all people regardless of vaccination status.
- If you have questions about this guidance, please call your local health department or 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258).
For the entire update, click here.
Originally released by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on February 12, 2021.