Putnam County Health Commissioner Issues Standing Order for Isolation of Lab Positive COVID-19 Residents STAY AT HOME ORDERED FOR ANY PERSON TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

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A “Commissioner’s Standing Isolation Order” for mandatory isolation related to COVID-19 has been issued by the Putnam County Commissioner of Health to separate sick people from healthy people and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This Standing Order directs any person who tests positive for COVID-19 to isolate themselves at home (or other places as ordered by the Putnam County Department of Health). The Order also dictates how long the person, depending on symptoms, must remain isolated at home. If this legal isolation order is not followed, residents may be fined up to $2,000 per violation per day. Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring their child(ren) complies with the isolation order or face the same fines.

The directions below can be found in the Commissioner’s Standing Isolation Order and are in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).

If you test positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms (symptomatic confirmed positive), you must stay at home until:

·         At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

If you test positive for COVID-19 and have NO symptoms (asymptomatic confirmed positive), you must stay at home until:

·         At least 7 days after the first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test AND have remained asymptomatic.

·         If symptoms develop, follow the instructions for symptomatic confirmed positive cases.

If you test positive for COVID-19 and have been designated by your employer as Health Care Personnel, you must stay at home until:

·         At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

o    Upon returning to work, you should wear a facemask at all times while in the Health Care Facility until all symptoms have completely resolved or until 14 days after the illness started, whichever is longer.

The health department is asking anyone who is or will be affected by this isolation order to cooperate with the Putnam County Department of Health and provide accurate information about their illness, potential exposure sites, and people who may have been exposed. If a person under isolation has worsening symptoms, they should  call their healthcare provider and follow their instructions. The full isolation order is attached and can also be viewed online at https://www.putnamcountyny.com/health/coronavirus/ under additional information.

The rate of positive cases and those who have been potentially exposed to the disease is rapidly increasing and expected to continue to rise. Currently, there are 213  reported positive cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Putnam County.

“Everyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 must follow the guidance outlined in this order. In order to curb this disease and flatten the curve every resident’s cooperation with all guidance from the Putnam County Department of Health is needed. At this time every decision we make not only impacts ourselves and our family, but our entire community. Your actions throughout this outbreak will make the difference between life and death,”  said Michael J. Nesheiwat, M.D., Commissioner of Health.

Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 throughout Putnam County and New York State, drastic precautions have been put into place and social distancing has been strongly recommended. All residents have been asked to stay home, including children and teens. Residents are being directed to stay home unless it is absolutely necessary. Acquiring food or medical supplies are considered essential reasons to leave the home. When you must go out remember to stay away from other people as much as possible, following the recommendation of staying 6 feet apart. It is important that everyone stay home, whether they are healthy, or sick. Consider any public site in Putnam as a potential site for COVID-19 exposure.

If you become mildly ill, stay home, and manage your symptoms. If you have symptoms indicative of COVID-19, call your healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms. Do not dial 9-1-1 unless you have an immediate medical emergency.

Continue to practice good hygiene, including washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Cover your cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, and do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

If you have general COVID-19 concerns or questions please call 2-1-1. You can also call the New York State Department of Health’s Novel Coronavirus 24-hour hotline at 1-888-364-3065. To stay up to date on local Putnam County information visit the county’s coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage at https://www.putnamcountyny.com/health/coronavirus/ or follow us on

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