This memorandum outlines changes for the number of days required for isolation and updated requirements for quarantine rounds.
New isolation timeframe
Effectively immediately, patients in isolation due to COVID-19 may be released after 10 days instead of 14 days if a provider has determined it is safe to do so. All other timeframes on the Movement Matrix remain the same.
New quarantine screening process
The following steps regarding COVID-19 quarantine rounds shall be implemented at each institution approved for critical staffing levels. In lieu of the standard quarantine rounds, effective immediately, quarantine screening shall be conducted once daily and shall be performed by any licensed health care staff as defined in Health Care Department Operations Manual (HCDOM).
Screening process steps:
- Provider to enter quarantine order.
- The institution shall export and print a paper list of patients on quarantine using the COVID Monitoring Registry
- Staff shall use the paper list to ensure screening is conducted on all patients.
- Health care staff shall:
- Ask each patient “Are you feeling sick today?”
- Visually assess the patient for any signs/symptoms of COVID-19 illness
- Staff shall place a check mark next to the patient name on the paper list once they have completed rounding on that individual patient.
- The list shall be maintained at the institution as proof that screening was conducted.
- When symptomatic cases are identified, an assessment utilizing existing documentation for COVID-19: Quarantine Surveillance Rounding Power Form shall be completed .
- Symptomatic patients shall be referred to a Registered Nurse (RN) or Provider for further evaluation as needed.
Institution leadership shall determine utilization of the above process. This will include the Chief Medical Executives and in coordination with the Regional Health Care Executives. This screening process shall remain in effect for the duration of critical staffing levels.
(Learn more about CDCR’s COVID-19 response efforts).
(Visit the official website for California’s COVID-19 response.)