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COVID-19 Update for Virginia<\/strong><\/p>\n December 29, 2021<\/p>\n Dear Colleague:<\/p>\n Thank you for your continued partnership in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.\u00a0 Please visit the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) website<\/a> for current clinical and public health guidance<\/a>, epidemiologic data<\/a>, and other information.\u00a0 Updates on the following topics are included in this correspondence:<\/p>\n Updated and Shortened Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for the General Population<\/strong><\/p>\n The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated isolation and quarantine guidance<\/a> for the general population.\u00a0 People with COVID-19 may end isolation after 5 days if asymptomatic or if their symptoms are resolving.\u00a0 They should continue to wear a mask when around others for an additional 5 days.\u00a0 These recommendations apply regardless of vaccination status.\u00a0 The isolation period was shortened from 10 days because current evidence shows that most SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs closer to the onset of illness, generally in the 1\u20132 days before and the 2\u20133 days after symptoms begin.<\/p>\n CDC also changed and shortened quarantine guidance for those exposed to COVID-19:<\/p>\n Regardless of vaccination status, those exposed to someone with COVID-19 should get tested on day 5, if possible.\u00a0 They should also isolate immediately if they develop symptoms or test positive.<\/p>\n At this time, CDC recommends following September 2021 isolation and quarantine guidance for healthcare patients<\/a> and nursing home residents<\/a>. We anticipate that CDC will update sector specific guidance shortly.<\/p>\n CDC\u2019s updated quarantine guidance reflects data from South Africa and the United Kingdom, which show that vaccine effectiveness against Omicron infection after two doses of mRNA vaccine is about 35%.\u00a0 Following a booster dose, vaccine effectiveness against Omicron infection increases to 75%.\u00a0 Please continue to encourage all patients 16 years and older to get their COVID-19 booster shots when they are eligible and everyone 5 years and older to complete their primary series.<\/p>\n Updated Guidance for the Management of Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure<\/strong><\/p>\n CDC released updated guidance for isolation and quarantine for healthcare personnel (HCP), decreasing their isolation time after infection with COVID-19.\u00a0 Additionally, CDC released updated guidance for contingency and crisis management in the setting of significant healthcare worker shortages.\u00a0 The new general population isolation and quarantine guidance detailed above does not apply to HCP; healthcare facilities should implement the following guidance for HCP:<\/p>\n Healthcare facilities including nursing homes may implement new CDC guidance for contingency and crisis conditions<\/a> to shorten duration of work restrictions for HCP when needed to alleviate healthcare staffing shortages.\u00a0 The guidance is based on the limited information currently available about the Omicron variant and will be updated as needed as new information becomes available.\u00a0 HCP with even mild symptoms of COVID-19 should be prioritized for viral testing.\u00a0 Ensure that SARS-CoV-2 testing is performed with a test that can detect SARS-CoV-2 considering currently circulating variants<\/a>.<\/p>\n Return to work for HCP with SARS-CoV-2 infection<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0 <\/strong>Under conventional conditions, HCP with SARS-CoV-2 infection who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic with improving symptoms can return to work after 7 days with a negative test, and the isolation time period can be further shortened if there are staffing shortages (see table below).<\/p>\n Return to work for asymptomatic HCP with exposure<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n Therapeutics Update<\/strong><\/p>\n Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the first oral antivirals for the treatment of COVID-19.<\/p>\n Both treatments are available by prescription only and should be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis of COVID-19 and within 5 days of symptom onset.\u00a0 Paxlovid and molnupiravir will be available in some pharmacies in the Commonwealth starting this week; however, initial supplies of both medications will be very limited<\/strong>. As pharmacies receive these antivirals, a list of\u00a0 locations in Virginia will be available on the Therapeutics webpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n EVUSHELD<\/a> (tixagevimab with cilgavimab, AstraZeneca) is FDA authorized<\/a> for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against COVID-19 in patients aged 12 years and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, or for whom COVID-19 vaccine is not medically recommended due to a history of a severe adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or one of its components.\u00a0 Virginia has a limited supply of EVUSHELD available for distribution; the initial supply will go to existing monoclonal antibody administration sites.<\/p>\n The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) plans to pause shipments to states of bamlanivimab and etesevimab together, etesevimab alone, and REGEN-COV effective January 3, 2022, pending updated CDC data, because current data show it\u2019s unlikely that bamlanivimab and etesevimab administered together (Bam\/Ete) or casirivimab and imdevimab (REGEN-COV) will be effective against the Omicron variant<\/a>.\u00a0 Sotrovimab appears to retain activity against the Omicron variant.\u00a0 FDA updated the Health Care Provider Fact Sheets for bamlanivimab and etesevimab administered together<\/a>, REGEN-COV<\/a>, and sotrovimab<\/a> with specific information regarding expected activity against the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529\/BA.1).<\/p>\n Thank you again for your continued partnership as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.\u00a0 I hope you have a safe and happy holiday season.<\/p>\n Sincerely,<\/p>\n M. Norman Oliver, MD, MA<\/p>\n State Health Commissioner<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" COVID-19 Update for Virginia December 29, 2021 Dear Colleague: Thank you for your continued partnership in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.\u00a0 Please visit the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) website for current clinical and public health guidance, epidemiologic data, and other information.\u00a0 Updates on the following topics are included in this correspondence: Updated and Shortened […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1054","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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