Town 0f Agawam
Health Department
36 Main Street, Agawam, Massachusetts 01001-1837
Tel: 413-786-0400 ext. 8207 Fax: 413-726-9723
About COVID-19 isolation and quarantine
On December 28, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shortened the recommended time for isolation for individuals with COVID-19.
If the individual shows no symptoms, the recommended isolation period is shortened from 10 days to 5 days, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others.
For individuals unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second Pfizer or Moderna dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted who have been exposed to COVID-19, the CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days.
Alternatively, if a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure. Individuals who have received their booster do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.
For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our communities.
Note: The updated isolation guidance applies to K-12 schools. At this time, quarantine guidance for K-12 schools remains unchanged. DESE’s current mask requirement and Policy on Vaccination Rate Threshold remains in effect.
Child care programs should continue to partner with their local boards of health for support in developing or adjusting their individual program’s quarantine and isolation policies in accordance with the revised CDC guidance. EEC will release additional child care specific COVID-19 information during the week of January 3rd. As a reminder, child care programs are encouraged to leverage these suggested strategies, developed by EEC, when developing their policies for COVID-19 mitigation.
If you test positive for COVID-19 (isolate)
Everyone regardless of vaccination status
| - Stay home for 5 days.
- If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving 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
If you:
Have been boosted
OR
Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months:
OR
Completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months
- 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:
Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted
OR
Completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted
OR
Are unvaccinated
- Stay home 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.
If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home