WA Department of Health updates guidance for COVID-19, other respiratory illnesses – NCWLIFE News

OLYMPIA The Washington State Department of Health has updated their guidance for what to do when someone is sick with COVID-19, the flu, RSV or other respiratory viruses.

In a press release, the DOH says the new guidance recommends people sick with COVID-19 return to normal activities "when their symptoms are getting betteroverall,and they have not had a fever (without having to use fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours."

Previous COVID-19 guidance recommended people isolate for at least 5 full days after symptoms appeared.

The department reminds people that even if their symptoms have improved, they can still be contagious for several days:

Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, DOH chief science officer, said that the updated respiratory isolation guidance "reflects that we're in a better place now in the COVID-19 pandemic."

While life is returning to normal in many ways, we must remember that for many in our community with chronic conditions and weakened immune systems, respiratory virus infections such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV remain a deadly threat,"Kwan-Gettsaid."Each week, more than a dozen people in our state lose their lives to COVID-19 each week. We must not rest until that number is zero.

The new respiratory illness guidance recommendsstaying away from high-risk people until receiving a negative COVID-19 antigen test for people who tested positive, for 10 days after symptoms of infection start, or for 10 days since testing positive for COVID-19 for people who never develop symptoms.

DOH also recommends taking extra precautions during the first 5 days after resuming normal activities after COVID-19, flu, RSV, or other respiratory viruses, including:

The department says their new guidance "is meant to provide baseline recommendations, Washington residents are asked to follow any local health jurisdiction, workplace, business, or school policies that may provide more protective guidance specific to their setting or community."

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WA Department of Health updates guidance for COVID-19, other respiratory illnesses - NCWLIFE News