This page is constantly being updated as we learn more about COVID-19.  UPDATED: 12/22/2020

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I'm sick or have recently been exposed to a confirmed case of Covid-19? new quarantine guidelines as of 12/2020
If you are a member of Health Suite 110 and are having symptoms OR have been exposed to a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19, please complete the Covid-19 questionnaire to be reviewed by your physician.

In general, if you have had close contact with a + Covid-19 case and are:
a) ARE NOT having symptoms - quarantine for 14 days and consider testing at Day 5 or later.
b) ARE having symptoms - get tested.

**NEW QUARANTINE GUIDELINES: The new recommendations provide additional options for individuals who cannot quarantine for 14 days.  For optimal prevention of COVID-19 transmission, individuals should quarantine for 14 days following an exposure to someone with COVID-19.  There are now two options for a shorter quarantine period.
       a) 10 days, no testing: NO symptoms, may return to normal activities on Day 11.
       b) 7 days, with testing: NO symptoms, negative PCR test on/after Day 5, may return to normal activities on Day 8.

NOTES:
  • Day 1 = Day AFTER last exposure (Day 0 = Day of exposure)
  • Anyone who has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should monitor for symptoms for 14 days and get tested if symptoms develop.
  • Due to high risk situations, residents in long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and prisons are not eligible for the shortened quarantine period.

Most people that test positive for COVID-19 will have mild symptoms and should recover at home. The CDC has updated information on what to do if you are SICK, what to do if you have been EXPOSED to a known case of Covid-19 and how to care for a person in your household with COVID-19.​​​
What does "close contact" or "exposure" mean?
A close contact is defined as any person who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days before positive specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated (or until the end of the infectious period if not isolated before then).
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Other people who could potentially be defined as close contacts:
  • Household contacts living/sleeping/eating in the same home, or sexual partners of a case
  • Healthcare workers who have had a breach in PPE or have not worn it while exposed to a case (either directly, with bodily fluids, or with a laboratory specimen)
  • People in closed settings, such as long-term living facilities, and other high-risk congregational/closed settings (e.g., prisons, shelters, hostels) where a case has been identified
  • Known/identifiable contacts of a case in other group settings (places of worship, indoor workplaces, private social events)
  • Passengers on an aircraft sitting within 2 seats (in any direction) of the case, travel companions, anyone providing care, or crew members working in the same section
  • People who used other public or shared transportation with a case
What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?
Quarantine - keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus away from others.
Isolation – separates people who are infected with the virus away from people who are not infected.

Quarantine (aka stay home!):  If you have close contact (less than 6-feet for more than 15 minutes) with someone positive for COVID-19 or travel to a state list on the KDHE quarantine list.

1. Stay home for 14 days from your last contact (even if you have a negative COVID-19 test) or from your return from a state on quarantine list.  Click here for helpful illustration. 
2. Check your temperature twice daily and monitor for symptoms
3. If mild to moderate symptoms develop - please complete our covid-19 questionnaire or call our office on the next business day to discuss current testing recommendations.
4. If severe symptoms develop - please go to the ED
5. If you have close contact with a COVID-19 patient and do not have symptoms, but desire COVID-19 testing, please complete our covid-19 questionnaire or call our office on the next business day to discuss current testing recommendations.

Isolation (aka stay home!):  If you have symptoms of COVID-19, are waiting on COVID-19 test results, OR have tested positive for COVID-19 (even if you don't have symptoms).

You can leave isolation when:
     a) it's been at least 10 days from onset of symptoms and when fever free x 24 hours without fever reducing medications
          (whichever is longer) and symptoms have improved  OR
     b) you've had two negative COVID-19 tests obtained >24 hours apart, fever free and improving symptoms.

**See handy table below for more visual info.
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VARIOUS COVID-19 TESTS OUT THERE?
  1. Nasal PCR testing (gold standard): takes 2-7 days for results, very accurate.
  2. Nasal rapid antigen testing: takes about 15 minutes for results.  Positive results are very accurate.  Negative results may require a PCR test to confirm if suspicions remain high.
  3. Sputum PCR testing: may be as accurate as nasal test, studies ongoing.
  4. Blood antigen testing: tests for the presence of antibodies to help determine previous infection.  NOT helpful in diagnosing acute symptoms.  May cross-react with other non-covid-19 viruses.  Unsure level of antibodies necessary to produce immunity or how long they last.  Good 4 minute explainer videos to understand why you can't always trust your coronavirus antibody test results. Until prevalence in an area reaches at least 20%, antibody testing is no better than a coin-flip.
What's the risk for covid-19 exposure in my area?
Georgia Tech has developed a event risk estimation tool, organized by county.  Start by choosing the size of an event from 10 to 10,000 (lower, left hand side) and then zoom in and hover your mouse over your county.  For example, on 7/21/20, in Johnson County, a group of 10 people have a 23% chance that at least 1 covid-19 positive individual would be present.
What are considered "high risk" travel areas?
Kansas has a mandatory 14-day home quarantine for anyone who has recently visited a high risk area.  See KHDE website for latest updates.  The CDC recommends to avoid ALL non-essential international travel due to global spread.

*Simply driving through a state or briefly stopping for gas or a meal does NOT require quarantine upon return home.
What are the recommendations for pediatric athletes with recent covid-19?
Who is most high risk for complications?
  • Health care workers
  • People aged 60 and older
  • Patients who are hospitalized
  • People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
  • People who have a high-risk condition, including
    • chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
    • heart disease with complications
    • immunosuppression, including cancer treatment
    • uncontrolled medical condition such as diabetes, kidney failure or liver disease​​
What can i take for treatment or prevention of covid-19? 
  • ​There are ongoing studies looking at treatment and/or prevention options covid-19 including chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and convalescent plasma, but results so far show that these have not been significantly helpful.  In addition, some of these medications also have significant cardiac risks so are not recommended for the general public.
  • There were initially concerns that covid-19 patients who took ACE-inhibitors (such as lisinopril) or NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) had worse outcomes, but these do not appear to be of significant concern.  Regardless, due to the risk for dehydration and kidney damage in patients who become acutely ill, we generally recommend Tylenol (acetaminophen) as first line treatment for pain or fever if possible.  Patients who are taking NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, meloxicam, etc) for acute or chronic issues are encouraged to discuss with their physician.
  • While prevention strategies vary, we do often recommend TREATING + covid-19* with a 15-day course of:
    • aspirin 81 mg daily
    • zinc 50 mg daily
    • vitamin D3 2000 IU daily
    • vitamin C 1000 mg twice daily
    • famotidine 40 mg twice daily
    • melatonin 5 mg nightly

*As always, please contact your physician for specific recommendations for you before starting any new medications.
How can I keep my sanity during this stressful time?
- CONNECT. Reach out to friends and family via phone, video calls & old fashioned letter-writing.
- PLAY. Haul out that old (or new) hobby. Now's the time to dust off that guitar, hula hoop or box of paints.
- EXERCISE. Go for a walk. Play frisbee. Yoga with Adriene is a great FREE resource on Youtube.
- TALK. Our friends at Resolve KC offer online counseling as well as FREE group sessions on Facebook.
how can i keep my family & community safe?
Covid-19 is spread primarily through droplets, so coughing, sneezing, talking and breathing are the main risks for transfer.
  • Wear a mask when out in public. Here's a link to a no-sew version you can make in 5 minutes!
  • Continue social distancing – stay at least 6 feet away from anyone outside your home “bubble”.
  • Wash your hands with soap (keep those suds going for 20 seconds before rinsing) & avoid touching your face.

Remember, going outside for play and exercise is ENCOURAGED, but please continue with those friendly waves from afar and sidewalk chalk messages until it is safe to gather again. More resources on the KDHE website under "Toolkits" then "Individual/Family".
what about the holidays?
Check out other fright night ideas and your county's risk level and suggestions for safe events based on level (green, yellow, orange or red).

The CDC has also issued guidelines on how to stay safe over the upcoming holidays.
IS THERE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO TEST + FOR COVID-19?
Yes!  Essential workers who need assistance for eligible child care or health care expenses related to a covid-19 may apply to the Kansas Hero Relief program. 
What's the latest about the covid-19 vaccines?
Covid-19 vaccine updates available on the JoCo Health Department, CDC and KDHE websites.  Find answers to more of your questions about the COVID-19 vaccine on the Jackson County Health Department FAQ page.

12/17/20 Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine updates
  • mRNA vaccine technology goes back 18+ years and helps the body form antibodies to the covid-19 spike protein on its surface and works by blocking the virus from entering the cells.
  • FDA approved Pfizer vaccine for EUA on 12/10/20 for those ages 16 years and over; ACIP also recommended use as per FDA.
  • 2 dose series given 3 weeks apart.
  • NOT interchangeable with other covid-19 vaccines (must get the same vaccine for 1st and 2nd dose).
  • Recommend to be given alone and to avoid getting any other vaccines within 14 days of the covid-19 vaccine.
  • Common side effects are mild to moderate, occur within 3 days of vaccine, resolve within 1-2 days and may include: soreness at injection site, fatigue, body aches, headache.
  • The CDC recommends monitoring patients for 15 minutes after vaccination (30 minutes for anyone who has ever had an anaphylactic reaction to anything).
  • Healthcare workers are recommended to receive the vaccine preceding a scheduled 1-2 days off to allow recovery from any side effects.
  • Recommended for those with and without history of covid-19 infection.
  • NOT a live virus vaccine, so ok for pregnant and lactating women to receive, however full safety data is still pending in these populations.
  • If acutely ill with covid-19, defer vaccination until after released from isolation.
  • If recently exposed to covid-19, defere vaccinateion until after released from quarantine.
  • May defer vaccine for 90 days after covid-19 infection or treatment with convalescent plasma.
  • Takes 1-2 weeks after 2nd dose for vaccine to be fully effective, however no vaccine is 100% effective, so still recommend social distancing, masks, etc for now.
  • Getting the vaccine will NOT cause you to have a positive covid-19 test (antigen or PCR), but may result in a positive antibody result (blood test).
  • If you are exposed to covid-19 within 90 days after vaccination (but have no symptoms), you do not need to quarantine. This guideline will be updated as we learn more about how long the protection from vaccination lasts.
  • If you DO develop symptoms of covid-19 (not including the first couple of days after vaccination), you need to isolate and be tested as usual.
  • Those who are vaccinated, are encouraged to enroll in V-safe, a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers, someone from CDC may call to check on you and get more information. And v-safe will remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html