The Peru Gazette

Plattsburgh, January 10, 2022. Clinton County continues to experience a high number of new daily COVID-19 cases. The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) is working to complete case investigations as quickly as possible. However, with the significant increase in cases coupled with the revised NYSDOH guidance for shortened isolation and quarantine, it is very likely many new cases will not receive a call from CCHD or the NYS Virtual Call Center (VCC). CCHD and the VCC are prioritizing calls to the highest risk cases. 

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, stay home and isolate yourself from others for 5 days from symptom onset. Tell your close contacts that you have COVID-19 right away so they can monitor for symptoms. If your symptoms are improving, you may discontinue home isolation on day 6 but you must continue to wear a well-fitted face covering and social distance whenever around others for another 5 days. All household members that are not fully vaccinated, including a booster if eligible, should stay home for 5 days from their last interaction with the positive case and monitor for symptoms. 

If you need isolation paperwork and have not received a call within 5 days of your test date, please connect with CCHD through this secure online form: https://form.jotform.com/220063385752151. If your information can be verified in the state’s contact tracing system, you will receive your isolation information within 36-72 hours. This is for laboratory tests only. Do not use this link to self-report results of an at-home test. 

If you complete the secure on-line form, in addition to receiving your isolation paperwork, you will receive a text message request to enter your close contacts. Please complete this task; your contacts may receive a call from a VCC contact tracer with further instructions. Whether they receive of call or not, all contacts who are not fully vaccinated, including a booster, if eligible, should stay home for 5 days following the last interaction with the positive case. 

If you have tested positive using an at-home test, stay home and isolate yourself from others for 5 days from symptom onset. If your symptoms are improving, you may discontinue home isolation on day 6 but continue to wear a well-fitted face covering and social distance whenever around others for another 5 days. You do not need to seek additional testing unless you require isolation paperwork. 

School cases are being prioritized as higher risk cases. To help families make the best decisions, if you have a child who has tested positive, please keep them home from school and extra-curricular activities for 5 days from symptom onset. Any siblings that are not fully vaccinated, including a booster if eligible, should quarantine for 5 days from their last interaction with the positive sibling. If siblings develop symptoms, they “Working Together for a Healthier Community” – 2 – 

should be tested and/or stay home from school and extra-curricular activities for 5 days from their symptom onset.