Rapid Response Review: Quarantine Period for Exposed Healthcare Workers

Rapid review

In acute care and long-term care settings, is there potential risk of a healthcare worker (HCW) quarantine period which is shorter than the currently recommended 14 days after a potentially significant COVID-19 exposure? 1. What is the risk of infection transmission from HCWs to others if a quarantine period is shorter than 14 days?; 2. Does this risk of infection transmission vary across a range of COVID-19 case exposures (e.g., asymptomatic case, symptomatic case, or severely symptomatic case exposure; or by different types of symptoms; or different types of exposure) or levels of PPE worn?; 3. What is the optimal timing and frequency of post exposure testing in order to detect early infection and reduce the risk of occupational transmission to others if shortening the post-exposure quarantine period?; 4. What HCW quarantine guidelines do other jurisdictions use following an exposure?