IDPH changes recommendations for close contacts of COVID-19 exposure

The Iowa Department of Public Health has changed its recommendations for people who have been exposed to a positive case of COVID-19.

Close contacts of those who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer need to quarantine for 14 days if a face covering was worn by both people at the time of exposure.

This decision is made retroactively, meaning those currently in quarantine after masked exposure to a masked positive case can discontinue the quarantine. This change in policy also applies only to exposure in non-health care and non-residential settings.

All face coverings are covered by this recommendation except for face shields - if one or both people were only wearing a face shield, quarantine is still required.

Isolation requirements remain in effect for those that have tested positive for COVID-19.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said this change in recommendation comes in part after discussions with school superintendents that expressed frustration at the quarantine guidelines for close contact exposure with COVID-positive cases.

"In some situations they're having to quarantine a disproportionately high number of students when just a few positive cases have been identified," Gov. Reynolds said.

Gov. Reynolds added that this guideline is in lockstep with recent changes made by Nebraska and Wyoming.