Recommendations for Daycare/Childcare Facilities with COVID-19 Positive Staff or Children: Maine CDC may not follow up individually with every person who tests positive in Maine. Maine CDC is also no longer providing release from isolation and release from quarantine letters. Please follow these recommendations for positive COVID-19 cases:

COVID-19 positive individuals must self-isolate at home. If the positive case is not already at home, they need to go home immediately and isolate. They cannot go out to any public places (grocery store, gas station, bank, etc.). Follow the instructions in “What is isolation?” on page 3.

The positive individual cannot leave isolation until they meet the criteria listed in “Release from isolation criteria” on page 4.

Action items for the childcare facility are detailed in the document “Childcare: What if a child or staff member tests positive?” on page 5.

Close contacts to the positive individual need to quarantine, including household members.o The positive individual should notify their close contacts of the exposure and that they need to

quarantine.o A close contact is:

Anyone the positive person was within 6 feet of for 15 cumulative minutes ormore over a 24-hour period. This starts 48 hours before symptoms started (orbefore the positive test was taken for asymptomatic people).Anyone who provides care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19.Anyone who had direct physical contact with an infectious person (ex: hugging/kissing).Anyone who shared eating or drinking utensils with someone with COVID-19.Anyone who was exposed to respiratory droplets from an infectious person (ex:sneezed or coughed on).

o If the positive individual is not completely isolated from other people in their household, thenhousehold contacts must remain in quarantine until 10 days after the positive case is releasedfrom isolation.

o Follow the guidance in “What is quarantine?” on page 6.o Household members and other close contacts can leave quarantine when they meet the criteria

listed in “Ending Quarantine” on page 7.o

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If you have questions about who is allowed at the daycare/childcare facility, please see thedocument “Childcare: Who can be in my facility?” on page 9.

Support is available for people in COVID-19 isolation and quarantine. This could include temporaryhelp ranging from food, shelter, income and rent, to interpretation, cultural brokering, andpsychosocial support.o For more information on the types of services available, visit:

https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus-resources/support-for-isolation-quarantine.o The person requesting assistance can fill out the form for themselves, or another person can fill

the form on their behalf.o Find the referral form here: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/form/covid-19-referral-form.

The Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) has guidance available for Maine Child Care Providers.Please go to the “Child Care Licensing” dropdown and click the most recent version titled “UpdatedGuidance for Maine Child Care Providers” on this page: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/COVID-

response.shtml.

Maine CDC recommends that symptomatic individuals and close contacts get tested. Close contactsshould get tested immediately upon finding out they are a close contact and 5-7 days after exposure. A negative test does not allow the close contact to leave quarantine early. Follow the recommendations in “Where can I get tested for COVID-19 in Maine?” on page 10.

Maine CDC developed a document of frequently asked questions that daycares/childcare facilitiesare welcome to use to answer any questions: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/airborne/documents/frequently-asked-questions.pdf.

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Childcare: What if a child orstaff member tests positive? 

For more information and resources, visit:  www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus

Guidance for cleaning.Clean and disinfect your facility according to ChildcareLicensing guidelines. Closing your facility may not be necessary, provided you canmaintain staffing needs while following guidance. 

Be ready to work with Maine CDC to gatherimportant information. 

Maine CDC investigators may reach out if the child or staffmember was at your facility during their infectious period.They  will collect information on:

The last date the person was at the facility.A list of people who may have had close contact with thechild or staff member. 

Maine CDC recommends that unvaccinated close contactsquarantine for 10 days from the last exposure, then monitorfor symptoms for 4 more days. Fully vaccinated closecontacts are not required to quarantine, but should gettested 5-7 days after exposure. 

Work with families and staff for return to yourfacililty. 

Maine CDC does not recommend that you require proof ofa negative test for children or staff to return to your facility.Once an infected person meets the criteria for release fromisolation, they are no longer considered infectious. 

Notify staff and parents. Notify families and staff about the potential exposure.  Letall unvaccinated close contacts know that they need toquarantine.You must maintain the confidentiality of the positive personduring this notification process.  Maine CDC recommends that unvaccinated close contactsget tested immediately and 5-7 days after exposure. Contact your childcare licensing specialist.Report COVID-19 outbreaks with three or more positivetests to Maine CDC.  Call Maine CDC with any questions.  

1:Find updated Childcare Licensing guidance here: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/COVID-19-response.shtml2: The infectious period starts up to 2 days prior to symptom onset (or when the positive specimen was collected ifasymptomatic) and lasts until symptoms are resolved (or until 10 days have passed if asymptomatic). 3: A close contact is someone who has been within 6 feet of a COVID-19 case for 15 minutes or more in a 24-hourperiod. 

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COVID-19: Quarantine

What Does Quarantine Mean:

Someone who had close contact with someone who has COVID-19

For more information, visit: www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus

For someone who had close contact (not fully vaccinated): Stay home for10 days after your last contact with someone who has COVID-19, thenmonitor for symptoms for 4 more days.  For fully vaccinated close contacts: Get a COVID-19 test 5-7 days afterexposure and wear a face covering in indoor public spaces for 14 days (oruntil you receive negative test results). You do not need to quarantine. 

Who Should Quarantine:

Travelers from non-exempt states or returning from internationaltravel

Someone who is awaiting test results

You can leave quarantine for necessary and emergency medical care. If youare symptomatic, please call ahead. 

You cannot go out in public (ex: work, grocery stores, banks, gas stations,beaches, or parks).

You cannot have visitors. 

Check your temperature twice a day and monitor for symptoms.

If you need supplies, someone can drop them at your door while you remain insidewith the door closed. 

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Ending Quarantine and Return to Work if You Are Exposed to a COVID-19 Case

Healthcare Personnel: Asymptomatic healthcare personnel should self-quarantine for 14 days if the healthcare facility can function without them. If the facility would close without them, they can continue to work as long as they:

• Are not sick.• Monitor for symptoms.

• Wear a mask.• Keep a 6-foot distance as much as possible.

• Follow quarantine guidelines outside of work.

Person’s onset date.

Person released from isolation.

Household contact released from quarantine if not sick.

10 days

Household Contact: Self-quarantine and monitor for symptoms while COVID-19 case is home sick. Once case is released from isolation, quarantine for 10 additional days, then continue to monitor for symptoms for 4 days.

Monitor for symptoms 4 more days.

Date of last contact with COVID-19 case.

Contact released from quarantine if not sick. 10 days

Non-Household Contact: Self-quarantine and monitor for symptoms until 10 days after the date of last contact. Continue to monitor for symptoms for 4 more days.

Monitor for symptoms 4 more days.

If you are fully vaccinated, follow guidance in “Quarantine Guidance for Vaccinated Close Contacts.”7

Quarantine Guidance for Vaccinated CloseContacts

I am 14 days or less past my final dose of COVID-19 vaccine and Iwas exposed to someone with COVID-19. What do I need to do?

Quarantine for 10 days from your last exposure andmonitor for symptoms. You should get testedimmediately upon finding out and 5-7 days followingyour exposure. You cannot test out of quarantine.

I am fully vaccinated and I was exposed to someone withCOVID-19. I am now symptomatic. What do I need to do?

Contact a healthcare provider to be evaluated for testing.Stay home while you wait for test results. 

For more information, visit www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus. 

What Does it Mean to be Fully Vaccinated?

People are fully vaccinated when they are more than 14 days past their final dose ofCOVID-19 vaccine.

Exposure to COVID-19 Case After Vaccination

I am fully vaccinated and I was exposed to someone with COVID-19. What do I need to do?

Monitor for symptoms. Get a COVID-19 test 5-7 daysafter exposure. Wear a mask in indoor public settingsfor 14 days or until you receive a negative test result. 

X XXX

XXXXXX

Key Not fully vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated. 

Date of final dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Date exposed to COVID-19.

Stay in quarantine.X

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Childcare: Who can be in myfacility?   

For more information and resources, visit:  www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus1: A close contact is someone who has been within 6 feet of a COVID-19 case for 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period.2: Find release from isolation guidance here: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/airborne/documents/COVID-19-Discontinuation-of-Isolation.pdf3. The infectious period starts up to 2 days prior to symptom onset (or when the positive specimen was collected ifasymptomatic) and lasts until symptoms resolve (or until 10 days have passed if asymptomatic).4. Find updated Childcare Licensing guidance here: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/COVID-19-response.shtml

A child inmyprogram...

Ahouseholdmemberof a childin myprogram...

A staffmember...

...is a close contact ofa COVID-19 case.

...tested positive forCOVID-19. 

If unvaccinated, the child shouldquarantine at home for 10 daysfrom last exposure, then monitorfor symptoms for 4 more days.  Thechild should be tested 5-7 daysafter exposure, but cannot leavequarantine early. If vaccinated, the child does notneed to quarantine. The childshould be tested 5-7 days afterexposure. Wear a face mask for 14days or until negative test result. 

The child should isolate at homeuntil they meet criteria to leaveisolation. If the child was at your facilitywhile infectious, create a list ofstaff and children who were closecontacts. Clean according toChildcare Licensing guidance. 

You do not need to take anyfurther action.  If the household memberbecomes symptomatic, theunvaccinated child shouldquarantine and should not cometo your facility. If vaccinated, thechild does not need toquarantine. 

The staff member should isolate athome until they meet criteria toleave isolation. If the staff member was at yourfacility while infectious, create a listof staff and children who wereclose contacts. Clean according to ChildcareLicensing guidance. 

Follow the guidance for whenthe child is a close contact of aCOVID-19 case above. You do not need to take furtheraction unless the householdmember was in your facility whileinfectious.  If so, follow the sameguidance for a child testingpositive, above.  

If unvaccinated, the staffmember should quarantine athome for 10 days from lastexposure, then monitor forsymptoms for 4 more days. They should be tested 5-7 days afterexposure, but cannot leavequarantine early. If vaccinated, they do not need toquarantine. They should be tested5-7 days after exposure. Wear a facemask for 14 days or until negativetest result.

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