Cole County shortens quarantine guidelines to match federal standards
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Cole County Health Department is reducing the number of days residents should quarantine to align with new federal guidelines.
The change was discussed by the Cole County Health Department at the virtual Jefferson City Council Meeting on Monday.
The Cole County Health Department is following the CDC guidance posted on December 2nd, which shortens quarantine time to 10 days if the person is not showing symptoms.
If the individual exposed is not showing symptoms and receives a negative test on the 5th day after exposure, they will only need to quarantine for seven days.
"After stopping quarantine, people should watch for symptoms until 14 days after exposure and practice preventative measures," Communicable disease coordinator for the Cole County Health Department Chezney Schulte said to council on Monday.
"Cole county supports this guidance and encourages everyone to talk with their school administrators, employers, etc. to see how they may change their policies in response to the new guidance," Schulte said.
The Cole County Health Department added 122 new cases on Monday, pushing the total to 6,088 positive cases of COVID-19. Of those cases, 233 are from residents in long-term care facilities.
Those cases have resulted in 67 deaths in the county, 38 of those were residents of long term care facilities.
Schulte also clarified the large spikes in deaths seen the past week, saying the department is notified of the deaths in groups from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
"The recent death reporting reflects Cole County residents that passed away from about late August to late November," Schulte said.
Jefferson City and Cole County leaders have put out multiple advisories, urging people and businesses to encourage social distancing, wear masks in public, and avoid large gatherings. The advisories are not enforceable and there was no discussion tonight about making a mandatory order.
May Tergin urged citizens to follow the guidelines set out.
"These guidelines and this guidance are extremely important and serious, and we are asking everyone to follow it very strictly," Tergin said.
In the Jefferson City School District, 386 cases of the virus have been found, and 507 students and staff have had to quarantine because of exposure.
ABC17 News plans to monitor the meeting, check back here or watch ABC17 News at 9 and 10 for the full report.
