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COVID Positive at SciFam Information for Attendees

Dear SciFam In-person attendees,

 

We hope our COVID safety measures keep everyone safe at SciFam.  However, if you start to have symptoms or test positive for COVID during your trip here are some resources and recommendations.

If you do develop symptoms that may be COVID-related, or test positive for COVID - please do not enter the conference floor! Please call +1 (562) 444-5656 and PRESS 1 when the automated attendant answers" 

Report exposure, symptoms, or positive COVID testing for up to 5 days following your time at SciFam via email to SciFam@curecmd.org or by calling +1 (562) 444-5656 - PRESS 1 when the automated attendant answers. This will allow us to notify those for whom you may have come in contact to isolate and test.

 

IF FEELING UNWELL:

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested as soon as possible. While waiting for test results, separate from others and wear a well-fitted mask (N95, KN95, KF94). If possible, use a separate bathroom and consider moving to a different hotel room.
 

COVID-19 SYMPTOMS: 

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

  • Fever or chills

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headache

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

When to seek emergency medical attention

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:
 

  • Trouble breathing

  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

  • New confusion

  • Inability to wake or stay awake

  • Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
     

*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
 

LOCAL TEST OPTIONS:

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  • You can also use an Antigen home test kit (available at local pharmacies). Keep in mind that this test is less sensitive than a PCR or Rapid NAAT test. You may not test positive for 1-3 days after symptoms start. If vaccinated, initial symptoms are often a result of your immune system's response, not the virus. It may take a couple of days before the viral load is high enough to test positive.

     

IF YOU TEST POSITIVE:

  • If you test positive, you should isolate yourself in your hotel room until it’s safe for you to be around others. Wear a well-fitting mask when you need to be around others. Everyone who has presumed or confirmed COVID-19 should isolate from other people for at least 5 full days (day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date of the day of the positive viral test for asymptomatic persons). Wear a mask when around others at home/in hotel room and in public for an additional 5 days. People who are confirmed to have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 need to isolate regardless of their vaccination status. 

  • DO NOT travel on public transportation. If you feel well enough to drive home safely, you may do so. It is not advised to travel by plane, train, or bus until you are past the isolation period. The CDC recommends you do not travel until a full 10 days after your symptoms started or the date your positive test was taken if you had no symptoms.

  • Treatments may be available for people with COVID-19 who are at risk for becoming very sick. Don’t delay testing: Treatment must be started early to be effective—some treatments must begin within 5 days of your first symptoms. Contact your healthcare provider right away if your test result is positive to determine if you are eligible. 

     

ENDING ISOLATION:

You can leave isolation after 5 full days.

  • You can end isolation after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved (Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation​).

  • You should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of your 5-day isolation period. If you are unable to wear a mask when around others, you should continue to isolate for a full 10 days. Avoid people who have weakened immune systems or are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, and nursing homes and other high-risk settings, until after at least 10 days.

  • If you continue to have fever or your other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, you should wait to end your isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. Continue to wear a well-fitting mask through day 10. Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions.

  • Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask, such as restaurants and some gyms, and avoid eating around others at home and at work until a full 10 days after your first day of symptoms.

  • Do not travel until a full 10 days after your symptoms started or the date your positive test was taken if you had no symptoms.
     

If an individual has access to an antigen test and wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period. Collect the test sample only if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved (loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation). If your test result is positive, you should continue to isolate until day 10. If your test result is negative, you can end isolation, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public until day 10.

 

CLOSE CONTACTS/QUARANTINING:

Tell your close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and may be positive. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person has any symptoms or tests positive. By letting your close contacts know they may have been exposed to COVID-19, you are helping to protect everyone. If you later are confirmed positive, communicate this, as well, to your close contacts.

 

If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and you are in one of the following groups, you do not need to quarantine.

  • You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.

  • You had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (meaning you tested positive using a viral test).
     

If you are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines or tested positive for COVID-19 with a viral test, you should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of your last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day 0). Get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. If you test positive or develop COVID-19 symptoms, isolate yourself from other people and follow recommendations in the previous section. 
 

If you come into close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should quarantine if you are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. This includes people who are not vaccinated.
 

If you had a close contact with a person with COVID-19 and are recommended to quarantine:

  • Do not travel until a full 5 days after your last close contact with the person with COVID-19. It is best to avoid travel for a full 10 days after your last exposure.

  • If you must travel during days 6 through 10 after your last exposure:

    • Get tested at least 5 days after your last close contact. Make sure your test result is negative and you remain without symptoms before traveling. If you don’t get tested, avoid travel until a full 10 days after your last close contact with a person with COVID-19.

    • Properly wear a well-fitting mask when you are around others for the entire duration of travel during days 6 through 10. If you are unable to wear a mask, you should not travel during days 6 through 10.
       

CONSIDERATIONS PRIOR TO TRAVEL:

  • Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before travel. See the CDC website for details regarding vaccination and boosters.

  • Consider getting tested for current infection with a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before travel.

  • Bring antigen home test kits with you. Order free tests at COVIDtests.gov.
    Every home in the U.S. is now eligible to order a 3rd round of free at-home tests (8 tests). 

  • Bring extra prescription medication, in case you test positive and need to isolate.

  • Bring extra masks, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, a thermometer, and basic OTC medications.

  • Bring any necessary work items (i.e. PC) in case you test positive and need to isolate.

  • Bring your insurance cards and doctor’s contact information.

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See the CDC website for additional information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

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