Fiumara explains quarantine timelines

By Terry Murry on Friday, March 26th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – People who have been exposed to COVID-19 are asked to quarantine for two weeks. Meanwhile, people who test positive for the novel coronavirus have to isolate for a shorter period of time.

“If you are positive, we’re going to ask you to be quarantined for 10 days,” Umatilla County Health Department Director Joseph Fiumara said.

He added that those who are ill will be asked to quarantine longer if their symptoms still persist.

From that positive case the department then reaches out to those who have been exposed to the sick individual, many of whom still feel fine. Those people are asked to quarantine for 14 days.

“After 13 days, you could still start showing symptoms,” Fiumara said. “If you have COVID after about 10 days your body has broken it down pretty good to where we don’t think you’re contagious.”