The Peru Gazette

CCHD is reporting 2 new lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 today, for a total of 4 active cases of COVID-19 in Clinton County at this time. As many in our community are aware, one of these positive cases is a student within the Beekmantown School District. Contact tracing was initiated as soon as CCHD was notified of the positive test result Sunday morning and is ongoing. Beekmantown School District has been an active participant in assisting us with contact tracing, for which CCHD is appreciative. Contact tracing involves identifying and notifying close contacts of a case of their potential exposure. Those deemed to be close contacts are being placed on quarantine. Please continue reading below for answers to some commonly asked questions.

Q: Who is considered a close contact to someone with COVID-19?

A: For COVID-19, a close contact is anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes. Location (indoor, outdoor, etc.) and type of activity during the interaction can also play a factor. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person has any symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19.

Q: What is quarantine?

A: Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their local health department. By staying home during this time, IF you become sick yourself, you have not infected many others along the way. This is how we stop the spread!

Q: Does my child need to be tested for COVID-19? Do I?

A: It depends. Not everyone on quarantine has to be tested for COVID-19. To determine if you should be tested for COVID-19, contact your health care provider. In addition, your local health department may notify you when testing is recommended. A negative test result before end of the 14-day quarantine period does not rule out possible infection. A 14-day quarantine must still be completed.

Q: My household member is on quarantine—does that mean I’m on quarantine too?

A: If you have been around someone who was identified as a close contact to a person with COVID-19, closely monitor yourself for any symptoms of COVID-19. You do not need to self-quarantine unless you develop symptoms or if the person identified as a close contact develops COVID-19.

For more information on symptoms of COVID-19, visit https://bit.ly/3clPpdm.