New Guidelines
As of Dec. 21, 2020
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released new guidance on December 14, that supports the discontinuation of quarantine for all asymptomatic close contacts after Day 10 with or without testing. In California, the shorter Day 7 quarantine plus a negative PCR test (when collected after Day 5) is to only be used in highly specialized settings with critical staff shortages and is not currently applied for the USC campuses.
In Los Angeles County, the LA Department of Public Health has revised local quarantine orders as follows—
Close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases are required to self-quarantine for 10 days after their last contact with the infectious person. If they remain asymptomatic, after Day 10 they are allowed to discontinue quarantine on the condition they follow these additional precautions:
From Day 11 through Day 14 they must do both of the following:
- strictly adhere to all routine COVID-19 prevention interventions including, wearing a face covering whenever around other people, keeping a distance of at least 6 feet from others, and washing hands often, AND
- continue to monitor daily for COVID-19 symptoms. If symptoms develop, they must isolate immediately and contact their healthcare provider, clinician advice line, or telemedicine provider for a medical assessment and arrange a test for COVID-19.
How this impacts you
Employees (Faculty and Staff, non-Keck Medicine of USC): If you are notified that you have had an exposure to a COVID-19 individual, you may have a shortened quarantine period of 10 days from date of exposure. Your return-to-work instruction letter from USC Student Health will provide the date, and instructions for self-monitoring, 213-740-9355 (WELL). Employees in higher contact environments may be advised to wait out the full 14 day quarantine period, based on risk assessment by USC Environmental Health and Safety. You may access your test results, dates, and your other private health information from the secure electronic health records portal, MySHR (usc.edu/myshr).
Employees (Keck Medicine of USC): Your risk assessment, testing, and return to work instructions will be issued through Keck Medicine Employee Health.
Students (non-health professions): If you are notified that you have had an exposure to a COVID-19 individual, you may have a shortened quarantine period of 10 days from date of exposure. Your return to general activities instruction letter from USC Student Health will provide the date, and instructions for self-monitoring, 213-740-9355 (WELL). If you are staying in USC quarantine accommodations (USC Hotel) you may stay the full 14 days if it is preferable to separate from roommates and housemates for the full period. You may access your test results, dates, and your other private health information from the secure electronic health records portal, MySHR (usc.edu/myshr).
Students (health professions): If you are notified that you have had an exposure to a COVID-19 individual, you may have a shortened quarantine period of 10 days from date of exposure. Your return to general activities instruction letter from USC Student Health will provide the date, and instructions for self-monitoring, 213-740-9355 (WELL). If you are in a clinical placement, check with your clinic supervisor on the return to work policy. You may access your test results, dates, and your other private health information from the secure electronic health records portal, MySHR (usc.edu/myshr).
