![Iowa Department of Public Health Changes Quarantine Recommendations](http://townsquare.media/site/683/files/2020/09/coronavirus1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Iowa Department of Public Health Changes Quarantine Recommendations
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is making a change on quarantine recommendations for people that have been exposed to a positive case of COVID-19. This applies in non-healthcare, non-residential settings only. This includes businesses, education and child care settings.
- Close contacts of COVID-positive cases will no longer need to quarantine for 14 days if a face covering was worn consistently and correctly by the positive case and close contacts. The positive case must isolate. The close contacts should self-monitor.
- Self-monitoring entails close monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms over the subsequent 14 days, staying home if any symptoms develop, and speaking with a healthcare provider about COVID-19 testing in the case of any illness.
- If people who are self-monitoring become ill but do not get tested, they should remain home until 10 days after symptom onset.
- People currently in quarantine may be released from quarantine if a face covering was worn consistently and correctly by the positive case and close contacts during exposure.
- If the positive case wore a face covering, but close contacts did not, those close contacts must be quarantined.
- If the positive case did not wear a face covering, close contacts must quarantine whether or not they wore a face covering.
- Quarantine of close contacts will still be necessary in residential and healthcare settings.
Please find an infographic depicting the new IDPH recommendations at https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/61/covid19/resources/WhenToQuarantine.pdf
Masks are proven to be effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Increased mask use will reduce the number of individuals that need to quarantine. Along with wearing a face covering, we ask that everyone continue all recommended public health strategies:
- Stay home when sick.
- Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet whenever possible.
- Wash hands frequently.
More From 103.3 WJOD
![(watch) Another “Song Gone Wrong” from The Good Morning Rodeo at 103.3 WJOD.](http://townsquare.media/site/683/files/2020/09/FeaturedPic.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Kelly Clarkson Sued by Her Management Company Over Alleged Unpaid Commissions](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2020/06/kelly-clarkson-first-pictures-since-divorce.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![A ‘Lion King’ Sequel Is Coming From ‘Moonlight’ Director Barry Jenkins](http://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2019/07/lion-king-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Garth Brooks Suggested Trisha Yearwood for 2020 ACM Awards in Memoriam Performance](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2020/09/trisha-in-memoriam.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Luke Combs to Perform at 2020 Billboard Music Awards](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2020/08/Luke-combs-b.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Chris Janson’s Back to Drinking Mountain Dew After Recent No. 1 Hit](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2019/10/Chris-Janson-Feel-Good-Song.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![John Rich’s ‘Earth to God’ Is a Faith-Filled Plea for ‘Peace, Hope and Unity’ [Listen]](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2020/09/JohnRich.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Eric Church Wrote Johnny Cash’s Kids a Letter Before His ACM Awards Performance](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2020/09/eric-church-acms.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Have an Agreement When It Comes to Gift Giving](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2019/05/Tim-and-Faith.jpg?w=980&q=75)