Erie County reports 135 new positive cases of COVID-19; cumulative total is 6,870; change in instruction for quarantine for close contacts exposed to a person with COVID-19 infection
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT:
Melissa J. Dixon
mdixon@eriecountypa.gov
Erie, PA – County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper and Erie County Department of Health announce 135 new positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Erie County as of 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 6. Over the weekend, two new deaths were also reported.
Data from the weekend:
| Day | Positive cases reported |
| 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 4 | 235 |
| 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 5 | 225 |
The total cumulative cases of COVID-19 in Erie County is 6,870, with 104 deaths (reported in NEDSS).
This information can be found on the chart on the “Positive Cases in Erie County” page at eriecountypa.gov.
As of this morning, there are 145 total hospitalizations and 13 people on ventilators in Erie County.
Charlotte Berringer, director of community health services at the Erie County Department of Health, issued this statement regarding the change in instruction for quarantine for close contacts exposed to a person with COVID-19 infection:
“On Dec. 2, the CDC provided options to reduce the length of quarantine for contacts of persons with COVID-19 infection using symptom monitoring and diagnostic testing. Late Friday, Dec, 4, the Pennsylvania Department of Health released the same option, making clear that the test-out option is ONLY for areas that can support additional testing capacity.
“The Erie County Department of Health does support ending quarantine on Day 10 without testing and if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring. With this strategy, residual post-quarantine transmission risk is estimated to be about 1% with an upper limit of about 10%.
“Persons can discontinue quarantine at 10 days only if the following criteria are also met:
- No clinical evidence of COVID-19 has been elicited by daily symptom monitoring during the entirety of quarantine up to the time at which quarantine is discontinued; and,
- Daily symptom monitoring continues through quarantine Day 14; and,
- Persons are counseled regarding the need to adhere strictly through Day 14 after exposure to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions (e.g., masking, physical distancing).
“If any symptoms develop, they should immediately self-isolate and contact their local their healthcare provider or health department to report this change in clinical status.
“This guidance is provided for the community and does NOT apply to healthcare or congregate settings. These settings should continue to follow previously provided guidance for these settings.
“The Erie County Department of Health is taking the 10-day quarantine approach because local testing resources are NOT adequate to accommodate a surge in testing requests for persons without symptoms of COVID disease. Current testing capacity is unable to provide enough test collection and test results in a timely fashion for those with COVID-19 symptoms, yet alone an increase in testing requests for asymptomatic persons desiring to decrease quarantine.
“The goal of the reduced time is to reduce the burden of quarantine for persons exposed to COVID-19 disease. The most protective recommended quarantine period remains at 14 days post-exposure because this is the incubation period for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 disease.”
All residents are reminded to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth when near anyone who does not live inside their home; keep a 6-foot distance from others; stay home as much as possible – and definitely when feeling ill; wash hands frequently; and limit activities outside of their homes.
The next press briefing will take place Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m.
All questions related to COVID-19 should be directed to Erie County Department of Health at 814-451-6700 or ecdhinfo@eriecountypa.gov.
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