OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Health updated its isolation and quarantine guidelines on Tuesday, December 28th, for people who test positive for COVID 19.
The DOH says people with COVID can now isolate for just five days, rather than ten, if they are asymptomatic on day five.
They should continue to wear a mask around other people for the full ten days though, and if symptoms occur, they should get tested again to confirm those symptoms are not COVID related.
For exposures without a positive test, unvaccinated individuals should quarantine for five days, but vaccinated people who’ve gotten their booster don’t need to quarantine.
However, vaccinated individuals who’ve experienced an exposure should wear a mask around other people for ten days.
But the DOH adds that if you’ve been exposed to the virus and have doubts about your wellness, you should take a test on day five regardless of your vaccination status.
The changes come after the CDC updated their guidelines on Monday.