News & Announcements

Advice for COVID Scenarios and Testing Info

12/29/2021
 
UPDATE**

**See the CDC COVID Self-Checker for advice on what to do if you are exposed to or test positive for COVID-19

**CDC Shortens Isolation and Quarantine Periods.  See the Press Release for full details.

The Howard County Health Department is scheduling appointments for COVID-19 vaccination clinics for 12 yr + on specific dates for specific products. They are also providing appointments for COVID-19 vaccination clinics for 5-11 years to give the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.  We advise you utilize these services to get your child a vaccination as soon as possible. 

We are no longer able to offer curbside COVID testing for patients who are not being seen for sick appointments. We need to keep our entire staff available for assessing patients who are ill and providing medical advice.  Click  COVID testing in the state of Maryland to find one of the many locations which offer testing for those who need documentation of a negative COVID test to return to public activity.

See when you've been fully vaccinated for the CDC's recommendations for any specific restrictions for individuals considered fully vaccinated.  Even though you or your child is considered fully vaccinated (>2 weeks from the final dose), the CDC recommends testing between 5-7 days  following future exposures. You should wear a mask for public indoor locations for 14 days or until your test is negative. Other specifics about contact with unvaccinated high risk individuals, attending, large gatherings and travel precautions are further outlined on this CDC information page.

We now have a steady supply of doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to give by appointment only. Please check our COVID Vaccine page for additional information.

Check out the covidLINK, Maryland's statewide resource on the COVID vaccine.

Also see COVID information for additional resources.

================================ As of 12/27/21 the much of the information below has been updated. Please refer to the information in the section above ===================
The situations presented below represent the most commonly occurring scenarios involving the possibility of COVID exposure or infection. It is impossible to cover all scenarios so please feel free to contact our office if you need more specific advice than what is outlined on this page.
 

A negative COVID test does not mean your child does not have COVID-19 infection. Your child may still need to follow the quarantine (stay home) or  isolation (separate from others in your house) guidelines listed below.  CDC guidelines allow our doctors to consider options for a shorter quarantine period for those who have had a significant contact but have no symptoms. See Scenario #4.

*Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet for at least 15 min; hugging/kissing; sharing personal items.


Please follow the advice under the section that applies for your child’s situation. Not every scenario can be easily covered here, so please visit the CDC COVID Page to see additional information or if your particular circumstance is not included here. Children who are considered fully vaccinated should follow the recommendations provided by the CDC when you've been fully vaccinated

  1. Unvaccinated child has symptoms of illness (regardless of whether there has been close contact with a COVID + person):
     

     

    COVID19-symptoms.jpeg

 
  • Fever or chills,                      cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headache

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

 

 

ISOLATION: Most people have mild illness and do not require care in the emergency department or an inpatient hospital stay.  Any fully vaccinated person can serve as caregiver and keep your child away from rooms regularly visited by unvaccinated household members.


-If your child visits common areas, s/he should wear a mask (if over 2 years of age); wash hands often; wipe down common contact points and clean bathroom as needed

-Call our office for: fever >100.4 for more than 4 consecutive days, severe cough/significant problems breathing; whole body rash; profuse diarrhea.

-Isolation should continue until: 24 hrs fever free off medication; at least 3 consecutive days of improving symptoms; at least 10 days from start of illness.  Isolation can also end if your child has a negative PCR test at least 3 days from the start of symptoms and your child is assessed by a physician who determines COVID-19 infection is not highly suspected.

-If your child with symptoms has a negative PCR COVID test:
Your child probably was not infected at the time your sample was collected. Still take steps to protect your child from spreading germs to others; including staying at home until feeling better, wearing a mask when outside the home, and practicing social distancing.

  • A negative test result only means that your child did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing or that your sample was collected too early in your child's infection.
  • A negative rapid antigen point-of-care test has to be confirmed by a PCR test in order for your child's isolation to end.

-See CDC page for more details:   How to Isolate        When to end isolation      What to do if you are sick

 

  1. Unvaccinated child tests positive for COVID-19 but is not sick:

ISOLATION (10 days): Any fully vaccinated person can serve as caregiver and keep your child away from rooms regularly visited by unvaccinated household members

-If your child visits common areas, s/he should wear a mask (if over 2 years of age); wash hands often. If symptoms develop then see 3.

-Isolation should continue until 10 days from the positive test; even if repeat testing is negative. 

-See CDC page for more details:   How to Isolate        When to end isolation

 

  1. Unvaccinated child tests positive for COVID-19 and develops symptoms:

  ISOLATION: Any fully vaccinated person can serve as caregiver and keep your child away from rooms regularly visited by unvaccinated household members

-If your child visits common areas, s/he should wear a mask (if over 2 years of age); wash hands often; wipe down common contact points and clean bathroom as needed

-Isolation should continue until: at least 10 days from start of illness and; 24 hrs fever free off medication; and at least 3 consecutive days of improving symptoms; 

-Call our office for: fever >100.4 for more than 4 consecutive days, severe cough/significant problems breathing; whole body rash; profuse diarrhea.

-See CDC page for more details:   How to Isolate        When to end isolation

 

  1.  Unvaccinated child is a close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days:

*QUARANTINE:  when possible, your child should stay home for 14 days. Updated CDC guidelines allow doctors to consider ending the quarantine at 10 days without testing or 7 days with a negative result on a PCR test obtained on or after the 5th day of illness. During the quarantine period, the child should avoid any contact with unvaccinated housemates, especially those considered high risk for having more severe COVID-19 infection.  If the child is >2 years, then try to have the child wear a mask when around other people in the same house. If the child develops symptoms, see Scenario #1.

  See When to Quarantine  and Sick Parent and Caregivers for more specific scenarios
 

  1. Unvaccinated child is a close contact with a person suspected of having COVID:

    Given the current status, we recommend the same approach as when there is close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID, see Scenario #4.

 

  1. Unvaccinated child is a close contact with a person who is identified as a contact of a person who tested positive for COVID in the past 14 days:

    Your child does not need to be quarantined or isolated unless the person identified as a close contact tests positive; then see Scenario #3.
 

  1. Unvaccinated child is a close contact with a person who was or has become sick with Non-COVID symptoms in the past 14 days:

      Follow regular recommendations for social distancing and mask wearing


(Originally created 08/11/2020)

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