New York State
Department of Health
New York Early Intervention System (NYEIS) Electronic Mailing List
Updated guidance: "UPDATE to
Interim Health Advisory: Revised Protocols for Personnel in Healthcare and
Other Direct Care Settings to Return to Work Following COVID-19 Exposure – Including
Quarantine and Furlough Requirements for Different Healthcare Settings"
Dear BEI Colleagues,
Please
review updated guidance, titled "UPDATE to Interim Health
Advisory: Revised Protocols for Personnel in Healthcare and Other Direct Care
Settings to Return to Work Following COVID-19 Exposure – Including Quarantine and
Furlough Requirements for Different Healthcare Settings," released on
March 10, 2021, in its entirety. This guidance includes information on
health care providers, including EI service providers, who have been fully
vaccinated against COVID-19 and are exposed to COVID-19. Specifically,
the guidance provides:
Asymptomatic
healthcare providers (HCP) who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do
not need to quarantine or furlough during the first 3 months after full
vaccination if:
•
Such HCP is fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second
dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a
single-dose vaccine);
•
Such HCP is within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series;
and
•
Such HCP has remained asymptomatic since the last COVID-19 exposure.
Additionally,
individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19, regardless of quarantine
status, must monitor their symptoms daily through day 14, continue strict
adherence to hand hygiene and use of face coverings (even if fully
vaccinated), and immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop and contact
the local public health authority or their health care provider to report
this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.
Please
also note that when in-person early intervention services are delivered, all applicable
guidance and precautions related to COVID-19 must continue to be
followed. Among other precautions, this includes a requirement that
whenever possible, a physical distance of at least 6 feet should be maintained
when inside the home. If the services being delivered are hands-on and do not
allow for physical distance, PPE must be used, and good hand hygiene must
be practiced by the provider.
Please contact
the Bureau of Early Intervention at beipub@health.ny.gov if you have questions
regarding this information.