March 18, 2021: Update on Testing and Quarantine Changes for HCP
To all health care personnel (HCP):
On March 10, 2021, the New York State Department of Health issued COVID-19 testing and quarantine changes for HCP who have traveled or who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Additionally, CDC has released public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people, but these recommendations DO NOT apply to health care settings.
Effective Tuesday March 23, 2021, the following COVID-19 TESTING AND QUARANTINE CHANGES will take effect at NYP, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Columbia University Irving Medical Center:
- Domestic Travel:
- HCP (including those who received the COVID-19 vaccine) who are returning from domestic travel to any state or territory OTHER THAN New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, or Vermont should be tested for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 test) by PCR within 24 hours of their return AND again on the fourth day after they return.
- HCP will NO LONGER need to quarantine while awaiting a negative result from the initial test performed within 24 hours of return to New York but may return to work immediately upon return as long as they are asymptomatic.
- HCP who have recovered from a prior COVID-19 infection within 3 months do not need to be tested upon returning from domestic travel.
- Staff are encouraged to schedule their COVID-19 PCR testing in advance to allow for testing within 24 hours of their return and on the 4th day after their return. Please contact the WHS COVID-19 Hotline (646-697-9470; Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 7 a.m.-1 p.m.) to arrange testing.
- International Travel:
- HCP (including those who received the COVID-19 vaccine) who are returning from another country must:
- Show proof of a negative diagnostic test for COVID-19 no more than 3 days before boarding a flight to the U.S., or documentation of recovery from a prior COVID-19 infection prior to boarding.
- Quarantine for 7 days and have a negative COVID-19 PCR test 3-5 days after return.
- Community or Health Care Exposure to someone with COVID-19:
- Fully vaccinated HCP do NOT need to quarantine after a community or health care exposure to someone with COVID-19 if they meet all of the following:
- Are >2 weeks after receiving the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or >2 weeks after receiving one dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine
- Are within 3 months of receiving the last vaccine dose
- Remain asymptomatic
- MUST be tested 5-7 days after the exposure
- Unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated HCP must quarantine for 10 days after a community or health care exposure to someone with COVID-19.
- Fully vaccinated HCP do NOT need to quarantine after a community or health care exposure to someone with COVID-19 if they meet all of the following:
Please note that CDC public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people do NOT apply to health care settings. Therefore, ALL HCP, including vaccinated HCP, MUST continue to universally mask while around others, and distance >6 feet from others when eating and drinking while in the workplace.
Please carefully review this information. This information is important to keep staff and patients safe during the COVID-19 response.
Laura L. Forese, MD
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
NewYork-Presbyterian