<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
        {font-family:Wingdings;
        panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
        {font-family:"Cambria Math";
        panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:Calibri;
        panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
        {margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        font-size:11.0pt;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
p.MsoHeader, li.MsoHeader, div.MsoHeader
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        mso-style-link:"Header Char";
        margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:#0563C1;
        text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:#954F72;
        text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
        {mso-style-priority:34;
        margin-top:0in;
        margin-right:0in;
        margin-bottom:0in;
        margin-left:.5in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        mso-add-space:auto;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
        {mso-style-priority:34;
        mso-style-type:export-only;
        margin-top:0in;
        margin-right:0in;
        margin-bottom:0in;
        margin-left:.5in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        mso-add-space:auto;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
        {mso-style-priority:34;
        mso-style-type:export-only;
        margin-top:0in;
        margin-right:0in;
        margin-bottom:0in;
        margin-left:.5in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        mso-add-space:auto;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
        {mso-style-priority:34;
        mso-style-type:export-only;
        margin-top:0in;
        margin-right:0in;
        margin-bottom:0in;
        margin-left:.5in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        mso-add-space:auto;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.EmailStyle17
        {mso-style-type:personal-compose;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
        color:windowtext;}
span.HeaderChar
        {mso-style-name:"Header Char";
        mso-style-priority:99;
        mso-style-link:Header;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
.MsoChpDefault
        {mso-style-type:export-only;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
        {size:8.5in 11.0in;
        margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
        {page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
        {mso-list-id:1273245960;
        mso-list-type:hybrid;
        mso-list-template-ids:-1857935468 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l0:level1
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0B7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level2
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:o;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level3
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level4
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0B7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level5
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:o;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level6
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level7
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0B7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level8
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:o;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level9
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1
        {mso-list-id:1319574130;
        mso-list-type:hybrid;
        mso-list-template-ids:994612036 1426245886 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l1:level1
        {mso-level-start-at:0;
        mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:-;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
        mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l1:level2
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:o;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l1:level3
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level4
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0B7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level5
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:o;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l1:level6
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level7
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0B7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level8
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:o;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l1:level9
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
ol
        {margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
        {margin-bottom:0in;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=press/erie-county-department-health-changes-quarantine-guidance-following-update-new-york-state">https://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=press/erie-county-department-health-changes-quarantine-guidance-following-update-new-york-state</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="720" style="width:540.25pt;margin-left:-8.1pt;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr style="height:23.55pt">
<td width="720" valign="top" style="width:540.25pt;border:solid white 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:23.55pt">
<p class="MsoHeader" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:1.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="706" style="width:529.15pt;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr style="height:60.6pt">
<td width="706" valign="top" style="width:529.15pt;border:solid white 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:60.6pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><img border="0" width="186" height="72" style="width:1.9375in;height:.75in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D6DD25.B34C7870"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoHeader" align="center" style="margin-left:27.0pt;text-align:center;line-height:115%">
<b><span style="font-size:2.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="641" style="width:480.65pt;margin-left:8.7pt;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr style="height:16.8pt">
<td width="641" valign="top" style="width:480.65pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.8pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">MEDIA RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:17.5pt">
<td width="641" valign="top" style="width:480.65pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:17.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:17.5pt">
<td width="641" valign="top" style="width:480.65pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:17.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">December 28, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">CONTACT: Kara Kane /
</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:kara.kane@erie.gov"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%">kara.kane@erie.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
 / (716) 858-4941         <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">                                                                                                                                                               
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:105%"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CHANGES QUARANTINE GUIDANCE FOLLOWING UPDATE FROM NEW YORK
 STATE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:17.5pt">
<td width="641" valign="top" style="width:480.65pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:17.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Quarantine time period shifts from 14 days to 10 days
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:17.5pt">
<td width="641" valign="top" style="width:480.65pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:17.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">ERIE COUNTY, NY – Following an update by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to COVID quarantine requirements on December 26, the Erie County Department
 of Health (ECDOH) has changed the time period for quarantine from 14 days to 10 days past last exposure.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Starting today, December 28, individuals placed under quarantine by ECDOH can end quarantine after ten days if no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine
 period.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">ECDOH continues to strongly recommend a diagnostic COVID test 5 to 7 days following the date of last exposure for anyone who is close or household contact of a confirmed
 COVID-19 case. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“While in quarantine and through day 14 past your last date of exposure, anyone who develops COVID-like symptoms at any point should seek a diagnostic test immediately,”
<b>explained Dr. Burstein</b>. “Those individuals should assume that they are infectious, and act accordingly to isolate from others in a household and stay home from all activities.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Other requirements for individuals under quarantine include:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:105%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">
Individuals must continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:105%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">
Individuals must be counseled to continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene and the use of face coverings, through Day 14<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:105%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">
Individuals must be advised that if any symptoms develop, they should immediately self-isolate and contact the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“This will surely cause questions among people that our contact tracers are notifying,”
<b>said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein</b>. “The 14-day quarantine period has been in place since the beginning of this pandemic, and our contact tracers and call center are prepared to answer questions on this change.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Quarantine documents and other information on the ECDOH website will be updated this week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">#<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">For more information:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<b>ECDOH, COVID-19, Isolation and Quarantine</b>: <a href="http://www.erie.gov/covid19">
http://www.erie.gov/covid19</a><span class="MsoHyperlink">/iq</span> <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<b>CDC, Options to Shorten Quarantine</b>: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-options-to-reduce-quarantine.html">
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-options-to-reduce-quarantine.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<b>CDC, Quarantine: </b><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<b>CDC, Isolation</b>: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/isolation.html">
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/isolation.html</a> <o:p>
</o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height:105%"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:17.5pt">
<td width="641" valign="top" style="width:480.65pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:17.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:9.0pt;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">                <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:23.55pt">
<td width="720" valign="top" style="width:540.25pt;border:solid white 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:23.55pt">
<p class="MsoHeader" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:1.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://getmyflushot.org/"><span style="color:blue">Make time to get a flu vaccine.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Kara Kane</span></b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
<b><span style="color:blue">|</span></b> Public Information Officer (Health)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Erie County
<b><span style="color:blue">|</span></b> Health<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">95 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202<br>
P: (716) 858-4941 <b><span style="color:blue">|</span></b> F: (716) 858-8701<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:Kara.Kane@erie.gov"><span style="color:blue">Kara.Kane@erie.gov</span></a>
<b><span style="color:blue">|</span></b> <a href="http://www.erie.gov/health"><span style="color:blue">http://www.erie.gov/health</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>