It's Time To Update Your COVID-19 Response Plan…Again

Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the expansion of how it defines a close contact of someone infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Previously, the CDC described a close contact as someone who spent 15 or more continuous minutes within six feet of someone who was infectious. The CDC now says a close contact is someone who spent a cumulative 15 minutes or more within six feet of someone who was infectious over a 24-hour period, even if the time isn't consecutive.

According to the CDC, the change in definition was triggered by a report made public last week concerning a correctional officer who was diagnosed with COVID-19 in August. Despite wearing personal protective equipment, an investigation revealed that prior to the officer's diagnosis he had numerous brief encounters with six COVID-19 positive inmates over an eight-hour shift totaling 17 cumulative minutes of exposure. With no other known close contact