With the shocking news that Donald and Melenia Trump have tested positive for COVID-19 (along with Hope Hicks, one of Trump's top advisors and key inner-circle members), I thought it is a good time to review the CDC's rules for quarantine (how long you must stay away from others when you've been exposed to someone with Covid) and isolation (how you must stay away from others when you have Covid).
Quarantine applies to people who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 (excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months).It lasts for 14 days after one's last close contact with a person who has COVID-19. During that time you should self-monitor for Covid symptoms and stay away from other people as best as possible
Close contact means—
- You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
- You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
- You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
- You shared eating or drinking utensils
- They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you
Isolation applies to people who have symptoms of COVID-19 and are able to recover at home, and people who have no symptoms (are asymptomatic) but have tested positive for COVID-19.
It lasts for a minimum of 10 days, and ends—
- At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared; and
- At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication; and
- Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving (Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.)
Yesterday, I offered 7 tips to help your employees navigate political discussions at work. Truth be told, I got the idea for the post from a podcast I (along with my friend Robin Shea) recorded earlier in the week for XpertHR, entitled, Handling Employee Social Media Use Amid the 2020 Election.
That podcast is now available for listening, which you can here or in your podcast app of choice.
Finally, last Friday I shared that we'd be attending an outdoor, physically distanced performance of Lake Ridge Academy's production of The Brothers Grimm Spectaculaton (featuring Norah Hyman). It was creatively staged, excellently performed, and just plain funny. Here's my personal highlight, Norah as a Crab Person.