Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

Effective March 1, 2024

People who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need to routinely stay away from others for at least five days, according to new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued Friday. The change ends a strategy from earlier in the pandemic that experts said has been important to controlling the spread of the infection. The agency says it's updating its recommendations for COVID-19 to bring them in line with its advice for other kinds of respiratory infections, including influenza and RSV. Offering a single set of unified guidance will make people more likely to follow it, agency experts said in a news briefing on Friday. Namely, the CDC now says people who have COVID-19 should stay home until they've been fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours and their symptoms are improving. After that, it's fine to resume regular activities, agency experts say. But they recommend that people take additional precautions for the next five days – including improving ventilation, masking and limiting close contact with others – to lower the risk of spreading the virus. These enhanced precautions are particularly important for people who are around vulnerable individuals, such as those who are elderly or have immune function that's been blunted by medication or an illness, like cancer.

Free COVID Test Kits can be ordered directly from the Federal Government and shipped to your home at the following link.

https://www.covid.gov/tests

The Town of Southwick has a very limited supply of test kits available.  They are located on the counter in the lobby between the Town Clerk and Assessor. Please limit to 1 box per household.  You may obtain free test kits from the postal service, which will be delivered to your residence.  Please go to this website: COVID Home Tests | USPS

 

 
 
 
 
 

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