FILE: State Epidemiologist Angela Dunn, left, and ASL interpreter Trenton Marsh, upper right, during a daily COVID-19 briefing. (Credit: KSL TV, April 16, 2020)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health reduced its quarantine policy, mirroring recent changes from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. The new policy recommends people who have been exposed to COVID-19 should quarantine for seven to 10 days, rather than the previous 14-day period.
Utah will implement these changes effective immediately, state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn announced Thursday.
It’s still recommended for those who are exposed to the coronavirus to quarantine for the full 14-day period. However, for those who are not able to quarantine that long — because of economic hardships or job responsibilities — health officials say these new recommendations can provide an alternative.
The new recommendations advise those who are exposed to wait at least seven days before getting tested. If the test is negative and you don’t have any symptoms, you can end the quarantine after the 7-day mark.
If you opt out of testing, the UDOH advises you can end your quarantine 10 days after your last interaction with someone who tested positive and if you experience no symptoms. If you end quarantine early using either of these two methods, the department of health advises Utahns to continue monitoring for symptoms and take public health measures.
However, if you live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you must quarantine for at least 10 days — even if you test negative.