Updated COVID Information

Posted on 01/13/2024

Dear LA County Sector Partners,

These updates reflect changes to isolation guidance for persons who test positive, recommended testing for close contacts, and the definition of “infectious period” for isolation and exclusion purposes.

LAC DPH Instructions for COVID cases and contacts_01.11.2024.pdf

Summary of significant changes:

• Masking for persons who test positive for COVID: All individuals who test positive need to wear a well-fitting, high-quality respiratory mask for a total of 10 days after their symptoms began or, if they do not have symptoms, the date of their initial positive test, whenever they are around others. This includes individuals who test positive and have no symptoms or only mild symptoms.
• Testing for close contacts: With easy access to at-home testing for COVID-19, it is important for individuals to assess their status if they have respiratory symptoms or had a known exposure toa person infected with COVID-19. We advise everyone who is a close contact to a confirmed case to test immediately if they have symptoms and within 3- 5 days of their last exposure date if they are not symptomatic.
• Defining the term “infectious period”: The infectious period for COVID-19 has not changed. Individuals who are positive for COVID-19 are considered infectious starting 2 days before their symptoms began and for 10 days after symptoms began or the first positive test if no symptoms. This is why it is important for anyone who tests positive to wear a well-fitting, high-quality respiratory mask whenever around others for 10 days after initial symptoms or first positive test if they do not have symptoms.

Other pertinent information and resources can be found on the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

Thank you for your ongoing efforts to protect health and well-being in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health