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Newton County Health Department
_____________________________
812 W. Harmony/PO Box 447
Neosho, MO 64850
Telephone: 417-451-3743Fax: 417-451-1852
Website: www.newtoncountyhealth.org
December 3, 2020
Citizens of Newton County,
CDC has issued guidelines that allow a reduced quarantine time for those individuals who are
identified as contacts to a positive case of COVID-19. A 14-day quarantine is recommended but
there are circumstances in which the quarantine time can be shortened. The Newton County
Health Department will implement the following circumstances that will shorten the quarantine
time:
1. Quarantine can end after day 10 without testing if no symptoms have been reported
during daily monitoring.
2. When diagnostic testing resources are sufficient and available, then quarantine can
end after day 7 if a diagnostic specimen tests negative and no symptoms were reported
during daily monitoring. The specimen may be collected and tested withing 48 hours
before the time of planned quarantine discontinuation (day 5 or 6). This will allow for
test results to be received by day 7. If test results are received before day 7, the contact
cannot be released from quarantine before day 7.
*Be aware that testing sites may only be testing individuals exhibiting symptoms and
therefore, tests may not be available. Check with site for availability.
In both cases, continued symptom monitoring and masking/distancing through day 14 must be
met.
These guidelines will apply to all individuals who are contacts to a positive case. However, the
Newton County Health Department reserves the right to evaluate each individual case and
make changes on a case by case basis if circumstances justify changes to protect the health and
well being of the individual and those in the community.
It is suggested that household contacts isolate themselves from the positive household case or
be aware that quarantine time will extend for a longer period of time due to continued contact
with the positive case.
A link to the full CDC guideline text is below.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-options-to-reduce-quarantine.html
Larry Bergner
Administrator
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
