January 11, 2022
From Steuben County Public Health:
In alignment with updated NYSDOH – New York State Health Department guidance and practice, we now offer self-service orders at www.steubencony.org/publichealth.
The state has implemented this significant change in contact tracing procedures due to the overwhelming spread of COVID-19 at this time. It is not feasible for our small staff to personally reach every positive and contact because of the volume of cases. Although guidance has been updated recently, the basics of staying home as a positive or contact has remained the same.
Under this NYSDOH policy change, lab tested positives will get a text message or phone call from the state call center once test results have been received. Positives will be reminded of steps on how to protect others and will be asked to notify any contacts that may have been exposed.
From Darlene Smith To Wlea News: Those who will get telephone calls about their test results will be: Seniors who are 70 years old and up, those who live in congregate settings, younger people, and school systems. Those who will get texts: everyone else.
Individuals who test positive using a home test must still report their positive home test to Public Health at www.steubencony.org/publichealth. Once the information has been added to the home test reporting portal, orders will be made available for download to the individual.
Individuals who test positive must remain at home for five days from symptom onset or from their test date if they do not have symptoms. If the positive has no symptoms or symptoms are resolving at the end of the fifth day, they may end their isolation as long as they can wear a well-fitted mask around others for five additional days. If they cannot wear a mask or are moderately to severely immunocompromised, they must remain isolated for 10 days from symptom onset or test date if asymptomatic.
Contacts of positives must quarantine for five days from the date of their most recent exposure to the positive. For some household contacts, this may lead to a 10 day quarantine if they do not separate from the positive during the positive’s five-day isolation period. Contacts must also wear a well-fitted mask for an additional five days or should remain quarantined for 10 days if they are unable to wear a mask or are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
It is recommended, but not required, that all contacts get tested on day five.
Anyone who entered isolation or quarantine under the 10 day guidance who has now reached five days and is not experiencing symptoms may end their isolation or quarantine. Anyone who previously tested positive within the last 90 days is not considered a new case and is exempt from an additional isolation or quarantine.
Positives and contacts may acquire isolation or quarantine orders from Steuben County Public Health by visiting the website and inputting their information. The orders are court documents and falsification or misuse of the orders are punishable by law.
