From time to time you will hear the terminology COVID-19 confirmed case throughout this pandemic. To be a confirmed case the person must test positive at a CDC laboratory.
As defined by the CDC, The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.
How long someone is actively sick can vary so the decision on when to release someone from isolation is made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with doctors, infection prevention and control experts, and public health officials and involves considering specifics of each situation including disease severity, illness signs and symptoms, and results of laboratory testing for that patient.
While individuals are considered infectious, local or long-distance travel should occur only by medical transport (e.g., ambulance or air medical transport) or private vehicle. Isolation and travel restrictions are removed upon determination by public health authorities that the person is no longer considered to be infectious.
Current CDC guidance for when it is OK to release someone from isolation is made on a case by case basis and includes meeting all of the following requirements:
- The patient is free from fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- The patient is no longer showing symptoms, including cough.
- The patient has tested negative on at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected at least 24 hours apart.
Someone who has been released from isolation is not considered to pose a risk of infection to others.
The Kearny Department of Health is currently monitoring:
CDC confirmed cases: 5
We have a new case from Hackensack Hosp. An 82 yr. old person.
Residents who exhibit any symptoms such as coughing or sneezing, or have a fever, should immediately self-quarantine at home and contact his or her physician. Going to work or shopping, or attending group gatherings, while having symptoms poses a serious risk of exposing other members of the community to coronavirus. Communities that have unmitigated spread have imposed shelter in place orders. While Kearny has not reached that level of spread, that is a possible measure if residents do not comply with social distancing guidelines or if residents do not stay at home when exhibiting any symptoms.