FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Sarah Granquist
Phone: (518) 891-4471
Email: sgranqui@franklincony.org
   

Notice to Public

May 13, 2022

 

COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Refresher for Franklin County Residents

Franklin County Public Health Department (FCPH) is alerting the community that the New York State Virtual Call Center (NYS VCC) has discontinued services as of April 29, 2022.  The NYS VCC was the primary method of follow-up phone calls and text messages for positive COVID-19 cases since the ending of local contact tracing efforts at the start of 2022.

FCPH will continue to monitor positive cases and will conduct follow-up communication for at-risk populations and congregate care settings, in addition to continued close communication with local school districts.

The general public should not anticipate receiving a follow-up phone call or text message if testing positive for COVID-19. The following steps should be taken if you test positive with either a PCR test or a Self-Test:

  • Individuals who test positive must remain at home (isolate) for five days after symptom onset or after their test date if they do not have symptoms. If the positive has no symptoms or symptoms are improving at the end of the fifth day, they may end their isolation as long as they can wear a well-fitting mask around others - at home, work, and in public - for five additional days. If they cannot wear a mask or are moderate to severely immunocompromised, they must remain isolated for 10 days after symptom onset or test date if asymptomatic. Please inform close contacts: 
  • Close contacts of positives, including household members, co-workers, etc., must remain at home (quarantine) for five days after the date of their most recent exposure to the positive if not up to date* with COVID vaccination. (See “up to date” description below.) Quarantined contacts must also wear a well-fitting mask for an additional five days when around others – at home, work, and in public- or should remain home for 10 days if they are unable to wear a mask or are moderate to severely immunocompromised. Contacts who are up to date* with COVID vaccination (see description below) must wear a mask for 10 days after the most recent exposure date but are not required to remain home unless symptoms develop. It is recommended that all contacts get tested on whichever comes first: at least five days after last exposure with positive case or if symptoms develop. If test result is positive, isolate.
  • Anyone who previously tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days is not considered a new case and is exempt from additional isolation or quarantine unless symptoms are present or develop following a positive test result.

*When Are You Up to Date with COVID vaccination?

You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have received all doses in the primary series and one booster when eligible.

  • Getting a second booster is not necessary to be considered up to date at this time.
  • The recommendations will be different depending on your age, your health status, what vaccine you first received, and when you first got vaccinated.

If you came into close contact with someone with COVID-19 and you are in one of the following groups, you DO NOT need to quarantine.

If you come into close contact with someone with COVID-19, you SHOULD quarantine if you are in one of the following groups:

  • You are ages 12 or older and completed the primary seriesof recommended vaccine, but have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO ATTENDING SCHOOL. Fully vaccinated individuals (teachers, students, and staff) ages 12 and older who were exposed may attend school.
  • You received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine (completing the primary series) over 2 months ago and have not received a recommendedbooster shot.
  • You are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series.

 

More COVID-19 information for Franklin County Residents:

Franklin County residents who test positive using an at-home COVID-19 test kit may complete the self-test reporting form found at https://www.franklincountyny.gov/residents/covid-19_guidance/index.php

For COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidance and self-serve documents, go to  https://www.franklincountyny.gov/residents/covid-19_guidance/isolation_and_quarantine.php

For assistance in calculating your isolation or quarantine period go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html#

Know Your COVID-19 Community Level - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

COVID-19 Community Levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Take precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 based on the COVID-19 Community Level in your area. 

 

Currently, Franklin County’s COVID-19 Community Level is HIGH. CDC recommendations are:

Additionally, all of us, vaccinated and unvaccinated, are empowered to help stop the spread by following the COVID-19 safety guidelines we’ve practiced since the start of the pandemic:

  • Wash hands frequently,
  • Sanitize high touch areas in your home,
  • Reduce gathering sizes and visit outdoors whenever possible,
  • Stay home when you are feeling sick.

 

---