On October 21, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
announced a new, broader definition of "close contact"
for purposes of COVID-19 contract tracing. Previously, being within
6 feet of an infected person for at least 15
consecutive minutes was considered "close
contact." Under the new expanded CDC standard, "close
contact" is defined as being "within 6 feet of an
infected person for a cumulative total of 15
minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before
illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test
specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated."
(Emphasized added.) In other words, under the new standard,
multiple brief periods of exposure within a 24-hour period should
be aggregated in determining whether the 15-minute threshold is
met.
As was the case under the prior standard, the CDC continues to advise contact tracers that the use of PPE (such as N-95 masks) or cloth face coverings should not be taken into account in determining whether a close contact has occurred.
Businesses and organizations should review and update COVID-19 protocols and contact-tracing plans to reflect this new guidance. The Ice Miller COVID-19 Task Force will continue to monitor emerging COVID-19 guidance from the CDC and other agencies to help you keep your COVID-19 response plan up to date.
More information about this new definition can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html#contact.
As was the case under the prior standard, the CDC continues to advise contact tracers that the use of PPE (such as N-95 masks) or cloth face coverings should not be taken into account in determining whether a close contact has occurred.
Businesses and organizations should review and update COVID-19 protocols and contact-tracing plans to reflect this new guidance. The Ice Miller COVID-19 Task Force will continue to monitor emerging COVID-19 guidance from the CDC and other agencies to help you keep your COVID-19 response plan up to date.
More information about this new definition can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html#contact.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
