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CDC Redefines COVID-19 Close Contact Based On Vermont Study

Guidance issued by U.S. health officials on Wednesday that redefines what it means to have close contact with someone with COVID-19 is based on research done in Vermont.
On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed the definition of close contact to include a total of 15 minutes or more – with brief but repeated contacts that add up to 15 minutes now count.

The Vermont Health Department says the new guidance is based on their investigation into a state corrections officer who became infected after several brief interactions with incarcerated people who had COVID-19. None of the individual interactions lasted 15 minutes but together added up to more than that amount over time.

The study is on the CDC’s website.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.  Contents © copyright 2020. All rights reserved.