CDC COVID updates (as of 12/27/21)
We understand that the last 2 years of the pandemic have felt very stressful and uncertain , but it is really important to be patient and kind to our staff who are doing their best to help hundreds of families every day navigate the changing COVID landscape
If you test positive for COVID (isolation):
EVERYONE (regardless of vaccine status):
- Stay home for 5 days in isolation*
- If no symptoms or symptoms resolving after 5 days may leave the house with CONTINUOUS MASK WEARING for an additional 5 days
- If symptoms not resolving or fever continues then continue to stay home
- If a child is too young or unable to consistently wear a mask out of the home, we recommend 10 day home isolation
* Isolation at home means:
- Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible.
- Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
- Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets.
- Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
- Wear a mask when around other people if able.
** Please note these are the CDC recommendations. Schools and institutions may still adopt the 10 day isolation period. Please follow your return to school/work guidelines.
If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 (quarantine):
| If you: Have been boosted Have completed the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months Have completed the J&J series within the last 2 months | Wear a mask around others for 10 days Test at 5 days (if possible) If having symptoms stay home and get tested |
| If you: Have not been boosted and your last Pfizer or Moderna vaccine was more than 6 months ago Have not been boosted and your last J&J vaccine was more than 2 months ago Have not been vaccinated | Stay at home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 days Test at 5 days (if possible) If having symptoms stay home and get tested |
If a child is too young or unable to consistently wear a mask out of the home, we recommend testing at 5-7 days to try to shorten home isolation. If test is negative, patient remains asymptomatic, and school protocols allow, may return to daycare or school with a negative result. If positive, then will need to follow COVID positive protocol.
** Exposure is defined as being unmasked and less than 6 feet away from an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
COVID TESTING
We appreciate your patience during this busy time. Our front office and triage nurses are working hard to answer all your questions and return your calls within a timely manner. Please be aware that Children’s Hospital is currently scheduling several days out for COVID testing. Please limit your calls for test scheduling to normal business hours.
Given the shortage of test availability, we currently do not recommend follow-up PCR testing if a home test is positive. We also do not routinely recommend follow-up testing after completion of home isolation timeline. That said, school or daycare protocols may differ, and we cannot override the policies of individual organizations or school districts.
There are several community resources for free testing. Please refer to the websites below.
Home
https://covid19.colorado.gov/testing#testinglocs
The Health Department will also send home antigen tests to you free of charge (delivery time may vary). Enroll with the following website:
https://covid19.colorado.gov/covid-19-testing-at-home
Also, if you have a positive home test you should be reporting it to the Health Department. Please do so here:
https://covidbinax.colorado.gov/login
COVID VACCINE
The CDC has now approved booster doses for children aged 12-15. They recommend the booster to be done at least 5 months after their initial series.
CMC has opened COVID vaccine clinics for the next 2 weeks, please schedule through Mychart. Copy and paste the URL below into a browser to schedule your vaccine appointment through MyChart.