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Details Of What L.A County Dept of Public Health Says (Mar 25) (But Thus Far LB Health Dept. Hasn't Said) About Isolation For Persons With COVID-19 And Self-Quarantine Req'ts For Those Among Their Close Contacts


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(March 26, 2020, 6:45 a.m.) -- In the noon hour Wednesday (Mar. 25), L.A. County's Dept. of Public Health announced significantly tightened restrictions (more protective of public health) that require isolation of persons with COVID-19 and directing persons who've had close contacts with persons with COVID-19 to "self quarantine."

A few hours later at a 3 p.m. City of LB webcast briefing, LB's Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, acknowledged that LB (with its own Health Dept.) hasn't issued some of the same restrictions but didn't elaborate on why not. Mayor Garcia added that Long Beach routinely reviews its actions and coordinates them with County and state officials.

In the public interest, LBREPORT.com provides salient portions of the County materials below for our readers. As of dawn March 26, they are in effect in L.A. County areas except Long Beach and Pasadena.

Scroll down for further.]






For persons with COVID-19

Follow the steps below to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and your community. b>Stay home except to get medical care

  • Do not go to work, school, or public areas.
  • Stay home until at least 7 days have passed after your symptoms first appeared AND at least 3 days after you have recovered. Recovery means that your fever is gone for 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and your respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath) have improved.
  • If you must leave home while you are sick, do not use public transportation. Use a personal vehicle if possible. If you cannot drive yourself, keep as much distance as possible between you and the driver, leave the windows down and wear a mask if possible.
  • If you do not have someone to help you, if possible, arrange for food and other necessities to be left at your door. If you need to meet someone at your door, wear a mask.

Separate yourself from other people in your home

  • Stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home as much as possible. It is particularly important to stay away from people who are at higher risk of serious illness. Consider alternate living arrangements for them if at all possible.
  • Use a separate bathroom. It this is not possible, clean the bathroom after use (see below)
  • Try to stay at least 6 feet from others.
  • Open windows or use a fan or an air conditioner in shared spaces in the home, if possible, to ensure good airflow.
  • Do not allow visitors and limit the number of people in your home.
  • Do not handle pets or other animals while you are sick.
  • Do not prepare or serve food to others.
  • Do not care for children if possible.

Wear a facemask when you are around others

    You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before you enter a hospital or doctor’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then people who live with you should not be in the same room with you. If they must enter your room, they should wear a facemask. After leaving your room, they should immediately clean their hands, then remove and dispose of their facemask, and clean their hands again wash their hands.

Cover your coughs and sneezes

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in a lined trash can; immediately wash your hands.

Avoid sharing personal household items

  • Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home. Wash them thoroughly with soap and water after use.

Clean your hands often

  • Wash your hands often and thoroughly, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Use soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.

Clean and disinfect all "high-touch" surfaces every day

  • High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean and disinfect any surfaces that may have body fluids on them. Use household cleaning and disinfectant sprays or wipes, according to the product label instructions. See cleaning instructions in Preventing the spread of respiratory illness in the home on the Public Health website.

INFORMATION FOR YOUR CLOSE CONTACTS

Quarantine

  • People in your house, your intimate partners, and caregivers as well as people who were within 6 feet of you for more than 10 minutes while you had symptoms, are considered to be “close contacts”. Because these close contacts have been exposed, it is possible that they will get COVID-19. They should self-quarantine even if they feel well because it can take 2– 14 days for them to show symptoms. See the Home quarantine guidance for those exposed to COVID-19.

Precautions for close contacts

  • It is recommended that everyone stays at least 6 feet away from you while you are under home isolation. If this is not possible, anyone who continues to be in close contact with you will need to extend their quarantine period to 14 days from the last time they had close contact with you. Your caregivers and household contacts should wear a disposable facemask and gloves if they clean your room or bathroom or come into contact with your body fluids, and/or secretions (such as sweat, saliva, sputum, nasal mucus, vomit, urine, or diarrhea). They should remove and dispose of their gloves first, clean their hands, then remove and dispose of their facemask, and clean their hands again

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Home quarantine guidance for close contacts to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

For persons who've had close contact with someone with COVID-19

Why am I being asked to self-quarantine?
You have been in close contact with someone who has Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and even though you feel well now, it is possible that you are also infected. It can take 2 – 14 days to show symptoms, so we may not know for up to 14 days if you are infected or not. You have been asked to self-quarantine in case you are infected so that you don’t pass on the infection to anyone else. It may turn out that you are not infected but it is too soon to tell.

How long do I need to self-quarantine?
Your last day of quarantine is 14 days from when you were last in contact with the person with COVID-19. If you continue to live with and/or care for the person with COVID-19, the quarantine guidance is as follows:

  • Your quarantine will end 14 days after the household started to follow the Home Isolation Instructions.[above]
  • If there is close contact with a person with COVID-19 (being within 6 feet for more than 10 minutes or touching body fluids or secretions without using the appropriate precautions) the 14-day quarantine period will have to restart. Body fluids or secretions include sweat, saliva, sputum, nasal mucus, vomit, urine, or diarrhea.
  • If you are unable to avoid close contact, you should stay in quarantine for 14 days after the person with COVID-19 was told they were "cleared" to stop their own isolation. This is likely to be at least 21 days.

    You must restrict activities and limit all movements that may put you in contact with others during the quarantine period.

  • 1. Stay home. Do not go to work, school, or public areas.
  • 2. Do not allow visitors and limit the number of people in your home.
  • 3. Separate yourself from others in your home.
    • Stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home as much as possible. It is very important to stay away from people who are at higher risk of serious illness. This includes people who are age 65 years and older, pregnant, or have a health problem such as a chronic disease or a weak immune system. Consider different living arrangements for these high-risk people if possible
    • Use a separate bathroom, if available.
    • Try to stay at least 6 feet away from others.
    • Do not handle pets or other animals.
    • Do not prepare or serve food to others.
    • Avoid caring for children if possible.

    Can I leave my residence to run errands?

    • If you do not have someone to help you, arrange for food and other necessities to be left at your door. If you have no choice but to go out for essential supplies and you still have no symptoms, you can go out but be as quick as you can, go at a time when the store is not as busy, and stay at least 6 feet away from others as much as possible.
    • You can go on a private balcony or yard or walk outside if you can stay at least 6 feet away from others.

    Can I use public transport?
    If you must leave home, do not use public transport. Use a private vehicle if possible. If you cannot drive yourself, make sure to maintain as much distance as possible between you and the driver and leave windows down.


    Public Health will not notify or release any personal information about you to your workplace or school unless it is necessary to do so to protect your health or the health of others. Public Health will provide a note to excuse your absence from school or work if you need one.

    Should I wear a mask?
    There is no need to wear a mask if you do not have symptoms.

    How should I monitor my health during this period?
    Monitor your health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19:

  • Fever.
  • Cough.
  • Shortness of breath or trouble breathing.
  • Other early symptoms to watch for are chills, body aches, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and runny nose.

    What if I develop symptoms?
    If you develop cold or flu-like symptoms, you may have COVID-19. Most people with COVID-19 will have mild illness and can get better with the proper home care and without the need to see a provider. If you are 65 years and older, pregnant, or have a health condition such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or a weakened immune system you are at higher risk of more serious illness or complications. Monitor your symptoms closely and seek medical care early if they get worse.

    You do not need to be tested just to confirm infection as most persons with respiratory infection, including COVID-19, will have mild illness which can get better with home care. You do need to remain home for at least 7 days from the onset of symptoms or 3 days after your fever is completely gone and your respiratory symptoms are better, whichever is longer. Call your provider if you have concerns or questions about the need for testing. You should continue to isolate yourself. Follow the guidance Home Care Instructions for People with Respiratory Symptoms. If symptoms worsen or continue and you need to seek medical care, call your healthcare provider in advance, or 9-1-1 in an emergency, and let them know you are a close contact to a person with confirmed COVID-19.

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