Dr. Tina Stefanski, LDH Region 4 Medical Director
The Louisiana Department of Health adopts revised CDC guidelines to shorten the quarantine period following a COVID exposure. Regional public health director for Acadiana, Doctor Tina Stefanski said LDH leaders understand the recommendation of a 14-day quarantine is not always practical.
“We all understand that that is tough to do. It’s hard for people, especially when you’re talking about people who work or kids who are in school and are essentially trying to get back to that as soon as possible,” said Stefanski.
Stefanski said now if you’ve been exposed to COVID, you can quarantine for ten days as opposed to 14 days.
“If you do not develop symptoms in that ten-day period, then on day eleven you can resume your normal activities. Of course, even more important than ever, wearing a mask and being careful when you are close to other people because it’s not a zero-risk,” said Stefanski.
Or if you show no symptoms and after five days test negative you can leave quarantine after seven days.
Local school leaders pushed for a change in the quarantine rules, because they say keeping teachers and students away from the classroom for two weeks caused staffing issues and disrupted the learning process for children. Stefanski says they want kids in the classroom as much as possible and the revised guidelines will do that.
“I do think for those schools that adopt these shorter quarantine periods, it will kids back to school sooner and they’re going to continue to enforce the recommendation of distancing in classes as best they can and certainly wearing masks,” said Stefanski.
A 14-day quarantine remains the gold standard and preferred if you have the ability to quarantine for two weeks.
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