Isolation, Quarantine orders end
Mendocino County Public Health Officer Dr. Andy Coren has rescinded the local Isolation and Quarantine requirements for COVID-19 for the general public.
Those who have been in close contact with someone infected with COVID-19 and have no symptoms are no longer required to quarantine after their exposure, regardless of their vaccination status, unless they live or work in a high-risk setting, Mendocino County Public Health announced in a press release Friday.
“This change in local requirements comes after the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) ended its quarantine recommendation for the general public,” the announcement stated. “Exposed persons should still get tested for COVID 3-5 days after an exposure and wear a mask around others for 10 days, but can continue to work, go to school, and participate in normal activities as long as they have no symptoms.”
The statewide COVID-19 Isolation Order remains in effect for people who have a positive test, COVID symptoms, or who have been diagnosed by a provider. Public Health stated that “isolation can end on day 5 with a negative test and if no fever is present and symptoms are resolving. For those with a positive test on day 5, isolation may end after 10 days if there is no fever and symptoms are resolving.
“I am rescinding the local Quarantine Order in order to align with CDPH guidance and reduce confusion around quarantine requirements in Mendocino County,” Coren said. “This change recognizes that transmission levels are decreasing and safe, effective vaccines and oral treatments (are) available. We know the pandemic will continue to evolve, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
The press release stated that “as the incubation period of circulating COVID variants has grown shorter (now averaging 2-3 days), quarantine has become less useful, with many exposed persons receiving notification of an exposure after their incubation period ended.”
CDPH quarantine instructions continue to recommend quarantine for employee and resident close contacts in certain highrisk settings where transmission risk is high and the populations served are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease. These settings include homeless and emergency shelters, healthcare settings, correctional facilities, and longterm care facilities.
COVID-19 information and various data dashboards are available on the county’s website at: www. mendocinocounty.org/covid19