Discontinuation of isolation for inpatients will be advised by the Infection Control or Infectious Diseases consult team.

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Patients Admitted with COVID-19

Isolation precautions do not need to be discontinued for a patient to be discharged. On a case-by-case basis, inpatients can be considered for removal from COVID-19 precautions based on:

1.       Meeting the definition of recovered COVID-19 infection (below) AND

2.       Infection Control or Infectious Diseases approval.

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Asymptomatic Patients

If a patient is asymptomatic from a COVID-19 standpoint and was admitted for something unrelated to COVID-19 but was found to have a positive COVID-19 PCR on admission, they may be considered for discontinuation of isolation precautions once at least 10 days have passed from their first positive COVID-19 test, assuming they haven’t developed any symptoms attributable to COVID-19. 

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For other unique situations, Infection Control will provide case-by-case guidance about when transmission-based precautions can be discontinued.

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Recovered COVID-19 infection

Persons with COVID-19 are no longer considered infectious once they meet the definition of recovered below:

1.       Afebrile for at least 24 hours without use of antipyretics AND

2.       Improving symptoms (they do not need to be fully resolved) AND

3.       At least 10 days have passed since symptom onset for those with mild1-moderate2 disease or, for asymptomatic persons, at least 10 days since first positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR or at least 20 days since symptom onset for those with severe3-critical disease4 or those who are severely immunocompromised5

OR

1.       Afebrile for at least 24 hours without use of antipyretics AND

2.       Improving symptoms (they do not need to be fully resolved) AND

3.       At least 10 days have passed since symptom onset AND

4.       Two consecutive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal PCR assays collected at least 24 hours apart are negative

 

 

For more information, please refer to this document for more detail:

Discontinuation of Isolation at the DC VAMC