The federal public health emergency responding to the COVID-19 pandemic expired on May 11, 2023. COVID-19 still is in circulation, and vaccines and treatments still remain available. The following information is meant to guide CU Medicine patients who have been exposed to or become ill with COVID-19.

Please call your provider or schedule a Virtual Visit if any of the following apply to you:

• New cough, fever of 100.4°F or greater, or shortness of breath in the last 72 hours OR
• Two or more of these symptoms that are new in the last 72 hours: Chills, muscle aches, severe headache, sore throat, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of smell or loss of taste.

What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19

As of August 11, 2022, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no longer recommends quarantine for people who have been exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. However, CDC recommends that people who have been exposed still take precautions to protect others, such as masking around others for 10 days and getting tested five days after exposure.

If you were exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, the CDC outlines steps you should take, regardless of your vaccination status or if you have had a previous infection.

• Wear a mask any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public as soon as you find out you were exposed, and for 10 full days after you have been exposed.
• Watch for symptoms for 10 full days after being exposed, including fever (100.4°F or greater), cough, and shortness of breath.
• If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately, get tested, and stay home until you know the result.
• At least 5 full days after your last exposure, get tested for COVID-19. If you test negative, continue taking precautions through day 10, including wearing a mask.
• If you test positive, isolate immediately.

What to Do If You Test Positive for COVID-19

If you have COVID-19, you can spread the virus to others. There are precautions you can take to prevent spreading it to others: isolation, masking, and avoiding contact with people who are at high risk of getting very sick. Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19.

• Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19. If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.
• Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.
• Do not travel until you have ended isolation.
• Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
• Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
• Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (such as trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
• After day 5, if you had no symptoms OR if your symptoms are improving and you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, you may end isolation.
• After day 5, if your symptoms are not improving, continue to isolate until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication AND until your symptoms are improving.
• If you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing, continue to isolate through day 10.
• If you were hospitalized or have a weakened immune system, continue to isolate through day 10 AND consult your doctor before ending isolation.
• After you have ended isolation, when you are feeling better, wear a mask through day 10.

We are monitoring insurance coverage guidance from Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial Insurance Plans and will make best efforts to ensure our patients receive their maximum insurance coverage.

From all of us at CU Medicine, we thank you for the trust you place in us for your healthcare and we send well wishes to all in our community.