The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services updated Friday its guidance on COVID-19 quarantine protocols based on new findings released by the CDC this week.
The CDC on Wednesday presented findings with options to reduce the required number of quarantine days for individuals with known exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case, according to a news release.
Earlier data that estimated the COVID-19 incubation period resulted in the current 14-day recommendation, but new data shows that 99 percent of infections develop within 10 days of exposure.
SEE MORE: CDC considering reducing coronavirus quarantine time
SEE MORE: Michigan will follow CDC guidelines on 10-day quarantine for COVID-19 exposure
While the standard 14-day quarantine period remains, it can be reduced to 10 days under the following conditions:
- The individual does not develop any symptoms or clinical evidence of COVID-19 infection during daily symptom monitoring for the 10 days after the last exposure.
- Daily symptom monitoring continues through day 14 after the last exposure.
“We are basing this recommendation on scientific data from the CDC and offering the opportunity to reduce the quarantine period to 10 days in certain circumstances,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “Public health officials can still require the 14-day period as this option most greatly mitigates the possibility of transmission. We strongly urge the continued use of masks, social distancing and hand washing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
MDHHS is also reviewing more options for reducing the quarantine period based on diagnostic testing results, but that is still being determined.
