COVID-19 Quarantine Guidelines
If you have been identified as a contact to someone diagnosed with COVID-19, if you yourself have tested positive for COVID-19, or you have just arrived to Rhode Island, follow these steps:
STAY HOME
- AVOID public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares
- DO NOT have any visitors to your house during this time. If you must have visitors, tell them that you are under quarantine
- PRACTICE social distancing, staying 6 feet away from others
How to self-monitor: Daily health checks
- Take your temperature at least two times a day, every morning and evening, and anytime you feel feverish. It is important to write down your temperature every time you take it.
- Watch for other symptoms such as: cough, sore throat, runny noses, shortness of breath and loss of taste or smell. Mild flu-like illness: fatigue, chills, muscle aches
If you develop any of these emergency warning signs* for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or inability to arouse
- Bluish lips or face
*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
If you have a fever, or develop respiratory illness; a cough, sore throat, runny nose or shortness of breath, mild flu-like illness; fatigue, chills, or muscle aches, or loss of taste or smell.
Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.
Patients should stay home until:
At least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared
AND
At least 72 hours (3 days) have passed since recovery (the resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications with improvement of respiratory symptoms).
For BVCHC employees - The RI Department of Health requires that employees quarantine and stay home if they test positive for COVID-19. Currently, the guideline is 10 days for employees. Although, the CDC changed its guidance to a 5 day quarantine for the general public, the guidelines are different for businesses in different states. Healthcare facilities that are not hospitals, such as ours, require that employees stay home for 10 days after testing positive for COVID. With the increase in the flu and COVID in this region, many of our providers and staff are unable to work causing a staffing shortage. For more information from the CDC, click here and RIDOH, click here
Additional Resources: