Personal Physicians
David Katzman, MD & Jennifer DeLaney, MD Internal Medicine Specialists
CDC Issues New Guidelines for Isolation/Quarantines
Jennifer DeLaney, MD
Increased time indoors coupled with the more contagious Omicron variant has caused COVID-19 cases to become very widespread in our community. Many of our patients have been infected or had a significant exposure recently. At this point, odds are high you will be exposed if indoors with others. Mask up indoors at all times with a well-fitting mask unless home with immediate family. You should wear an N95, KN95 or KN94, as surgical and cloth masks aren't as effective. We have some extras in our office .....In addition, we do not recommed eating indoors at restaurants or others' homes.
 
The increase in cases and exposures nationwide has prompted the CDC to make changes to their guidelines on isolation after infection and quarantining after exposure mainly due to staffing shortages that have developed. Taking into consideration what the CDC recommends along with experts' opinions, we recommend the following:
 
If you test positive for COVID-19:
 
Since the average person sheds infectious virus for 5-10 days after becoming positive, continuing to isolate for the full 10 days after developing symptoms, or testing positive if asymptomatic, is always the safest thing to do.
  • If you are unvaccinated or undervaccinated (meaning you have not had a booster shot yet), you should continue to isolate for 10 days after symptoms.
  • If you have had a booster shot, best practice would be to still isolate for 10 days, however the CDC has now said you can shorten the isolation to 5 days if all of the following criteria are met:
  1.  You have no symptoms of covid, such as cough, fever, headache or runny nose.

    2.  You wear a well-fitting mask, such as an N95 or KN95, whenever you are indoors and with others for a minimum of 5 additional days. If you are not going to wear a mask at all times in these situations, you should continue to isolate.

    3.  Health experts also recommend getting a negative rapid test before ending your isolation early.
 
If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19:
 
  • If you are unvaccinated or undervaccinated, you will need to quarantine for 5 days. If asymptomatic after 5 days, you will need to get tested before releasing yourself from quarantine. However, you will need to wear a mask (N95, KN95, or KN94) at all times when around others for the next 5 days. If at any point you develop symptoms, please isolate and call our office for further instructions. 
  • If you have had a booster shot and have no symptoms, you do not need to quarantine. But you will need to wear a mask (N95, KN95, or KN94) at all times when around others for the next 10 days or until 5 days have passed and you test negative for COVID-19. If at any point you develop symptoms, please isolate and call our office for further instructions. 
We know these continuous changes can be confusing. As always, please call our office if you'd like further clarification or have any questions. 
When to Test for COVID-19
The incubation period of COVID is approximately 3 days, which means that for the majority of people the earliest you will test positive is 3 days after exposure.

Compared to PCR tests, rapid tests require a higher quantity of virus to turn positive, so these typically require 5 days post exposure to get an accurate result.

People typically are infectious for 2 days before symptoms develop, and they continue to shed virus for another 3-10 days after symptom onset.

Those who are infected but asymptomatic also shed virus.

So when should you test?
  • 5 days after exposure,
  • Or when symptomatic,
  • Or if you are an infected essential worker without symptoms who wants to return to work before the 10 day isolation period is up.
Change in Office Policies Due to Increased Infection Rates 
With the rate of COVID-19 infections rising in our community, we feel it is best to return to some of our previous COVID-control policies to best protect you and our office staff. 
  • We will return to a hybrid model for physical appointments and follow-ups. This will work a little differently from our previous methods. Your appoinment will be the same day, however it will be broken up into two parts. When you arrive, please call our office and remain in your car. Your doctor will then contact you by phone for the conversation portion of your appointment - so this part will take place while you are still in your car. After your conversation, your doctor will invite you to come in the office for your physical exam and bloodwork. This will help us reduce exposure time to you and others while in the office.
  • We once again ask that any family or friends remain in the car unless necessary to physically assist the patient with their appoinment. 
  • Please call before coming to the office to help limit the number of people in the waiting area at one time. 
Thank you for you cooperation! We are hopeful these policies will be short-lived, and we can return to our normal scheduling sooner than later.  
Please visit our website if you have missed any past newsletters. The newsletter archives can be found by hovering your mouse over the "Medical Links" tab.

11709 Old Ballas Rd. Suite 101, St. Louis, MO 63141

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