Park County: New CDC COVID-19 Guidelines and Vaccine Safety

New C.D.C. guidelines shorten the amount of time anyone with COVID-19 needs to quarantine while new studies show vaccines, for some, can be safer than bananas.

The COVID-19 landscape continues to change across the United States. Current changes and spikes in case numbers are mainly due to the spread of the omicron variant, which has rapidly become the variant of most concern.

As more industries and workers request quarantine relief, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Wyoming Department of Health have issued new quarantine and isolation guidelines. Both the periods for isolation (if you test positive) and quarantine (if you have had significant exposure and are asymptomatic) have been reduced, with some conditions.

1. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, should isolate at home for five days after symptom onset or the positive test result if symptomatic.
   • Suppose they are asymptomatic after five days or are afebrile (not feverish) and symptoms are improving. In that case, they can end isolation but should continue to wear a mask in public for an additional five days.
   • If they still have fevers after five days or other symptoms aren’t improving, they should remain home until fevers resolve and other symptoms improve.
2. Individuals exposed to COVID-19 and are vaccinated and have received a recommended booster dose (or are not yet eligible for a booster dose because they finished their mRNA series less than six months ago or their Janssen series less than two months ago) do not need to quarantine at home. However, they should wear a mask around others for ten days after the exposure and get tested on Day Five if possible.
3. Individuals who have received a primary series and are eligible for a booster but have not yet received it, and unvaccinated individuals, should quarantine at home for five days after the exposure. Then, they should wear a mask around others for an additional five days and get tested on day five if possible.

Park County Public Health continues to offer clinics in Cody and Powell – for a vaccine that’s less dangerous than a piece of fruit.

In one of his recent posts, Park County Public Health Officer Dr. Aaron Billin discussed recently released studies on the COVID-19 vaccines. The studies conclude that the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have a minimal chance of causing significant medical complications.

“In this real-world population study of 19,586 vaccinated individuals,” Dr. Billin explains, “the occurrence of allergic reaction was 0.2%. This makes COVID-19 vaccination safer than eating a banana when it comes to an allergic reaction.”

COVID-19 vaccines are available in Cody at the Public Health Nurse office (1002 Sheridan Avenue) and the Paul Stock Recreation Center.

Vaccines are available in Powell at the Powell Annex (109 W 14th Street) and the Yellowstone Building. Appointments are not required at either Powell location.

Cody

Receive your COVID-19 vaccine at the Paul Stock Recreation Center (1402 Heart Mountain Street) on the following dates:

• January 4 from 12 p.m.-7p.m.
• January 5 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• January 11 from 12 p.m.-7 p.m.
• January 12 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• January 18 from 12 p.m.-7 p.m.
• January 19 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Powell

Receive your COVID-19 vaccine at the Yellowstone Building (331 E 7th Street) on the following dates:

• January 6 from 12 p.m.-7 p.m.
• January 7 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• January 13 from 12 p.m.-7 p.m.
• January 14 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• January 20 from 12 p.m.-7 p.m.
• January 21 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Vaccines and booster shots are now recommended for children between 5 and 11 years old. However, Park County Public Health requests parents call the office directly to schedule an appointment for their children.

When it comes to safety, “the data are becoming clear: COVID-19 vaccines are remarkably effective and safe,” Dr. Billin says.

As of Sunday, January 3, there were 18 active COVID-19 cases and six hospitalizations in Park County. 117 Park County residents have died from COVID complications since the pandemic’s beginning.