Due to the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, Mayor Kokoros wanted to provide residents with an update on COVID-19 protocols. Earlier this week the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a shorter isolation and quarantine period for the general population infected with COVID-19. The updated COVID-19 protocols for shorter isolation and quarantine period are based on vaccination status and vary on if you were a close contact to someone who is positive for COVID-19 or if you have tested positive for COVID-19. The updated information from the CDC can be found below.
Currently there is no mask mandate in Braintree. However, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued an advisory recommending that all residents, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask or face covering when in doors.
Additionally, everyone ages 5 and older can receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Everyone ages 16 years and older that have been vaccinated for more than 6 months are eligible to receive a booster shot. If you are interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or booster please visit vaxfinder.mass.gov. Also, if you are looking for a COVID-19 testing site please visit mass.gov.
CDC Updates
On, Monday December 27th the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement regarding their recommendation for shorter isolation and quarantine period for the general population infected with COVID-19.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, the CDC recommends the following:
- Stay home and isolate for 5 days
- If you have no symptoms, or your symptoms are resolved after 5 days, you can leave your house
- Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days
- If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves
If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you have either received the booster shot, completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months or have completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months, the CDC recommends the following:
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days
- Test on day 5, if possible
- If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home
If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you have either completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted, completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted or if you are unvaccinated, the CDC recommends the following:
- Stay home and isolate for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days
- If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days
- Test on day 5, if possible
The link to the full statement with additional information from the CDC can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html