By MARK SARDELLA

WAKEFIELD — Since the holidays, public health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Public Health have updated definitions and protocols related to COVID, Wakefield’s Health Director Anthony Chui told the Board of Health last night. Chui reviewed the latest protocols for quarantine and isolation.

First, Chui explained that someone who has received their first two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine (or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) is considered “fully vaccinated” but not “up to date.” A person who had received their primary shots plus a booster is considered “up to date.”

“Exposure” to COVID is defined by the CDC as contact with someone infected COVID-19 in a way that increases the likelihood of getting infected with the virus. A “close contact” is someone who was less than six feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.

Chui then reviewed the latest quarantine/isolation guidelines.

If you were exposed to COVID but are not up-to-date on your vaccinations you should stay home and quarantine for at least 5 full days, Chui said. You should wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others in your home. Even if you don’t develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.

After your 5-day quarantine, watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Wear a well-fitted mask around others.

If you are exposed to COVID-19 and are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, you do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms. Even if you don’t develop symptoms, the CDC recommends getting tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with an infected person. If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask. Avoid travel and avoid being around people who are at high risk.

If you had confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days (you tested positive using a viral test) and were subsequently exposed to COVID, you do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms. Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Take precautions until day 10. Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask. Avoid travel and avoid being around people who are at high risk.

If you test positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, stay home for 5 days and isolate from others in your home. Wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others in your home. You may end isolation if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving. If you did not have symptoms, you can end isolation after at least 5 full days after your positive test.

If you were severely ill with COVID-19, you should isolate for at least 10 days. Consult your doctor before ending isolation and take precautions until day 10. Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask. Avoid travel and avoid being around people who are at high risk.

Chui also explained how the isolation/quarantine periods are calculated. Day 0 is your first day of symptoms or a positive viral test. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed or your test specimen was collected.

Chui also stressed that not all masks are equal. Cloth products provide the least protection, Well-fitting disposable surgical masks, N95 masks and KN95s offer are recommended, he said.