Thursday, April 8, 2021
On April 5, 2021, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reinstated the standard 14-day quarantine for close contacts of COVID-19 cases. This mandatory 14-day quarantine standard eliminates (for now) the 10-day quarantine option for close contacts with COVID-19 cases previously announced on December 4, 2020. The announced reason for the change is increasing COVID-19 rates and variant spreads throughout Michigan. The state's quarantine requirements and other COVID-19 precautions have changed in the past and are subject to change in the future. Varnum will continue to monitor requirements and advise of any changes as they occur.
The current 14-day quarantine requirement applies to “close contacts” which are currently defined in the FAQs issued by MDHHS as being within approximately six feet (two meters) of a COVID-19 case for 15 minutes, including brief encounters in a 24-hour period totaling 15 minutes or more; or having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case. The MDHHS quarantine requirement has certain exemptions, outlined below, but otherwise requires individuals meeting the definition of "close contact" to quarantine and monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days. If the person shows symptoms within 14 days following exposure they should immediately isolate and get tested.