Health Officer/Director

department head: Carol Quest

COVID-19 UPDATES

The City of Watertown is working hard to protect, support and unite the Watertown community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Watertown Department of Public Health can only do tracing for a positive COVID case from a lab test.

  • No release of isolation or quarantine information can be provided for positive tests taken with at-home testing kits
  • If you test positive with an at-home test, it is strongly recommended to follow up with a laboratory confirmed test through a testing site.

Self-Testing At Home or Anywhere | CDC


Updated Isolation Recommendations (for those who have tested positive for COVID-19)


If the individual has no symptoms at any point:

  • They can leave isolation after 5 days (test date is day 0) but must continue to wear a mask for 5 more days.
    • If they develop symptoms at any point, they should re-isolate for at least 5 days (symptom onset is day 0) and until their symptoms are improving and they haven't had a fever for at least 24 hours.
    • They would need to wear a mask until 10 days from their symptom onset date.

If the individual has symptoms:

  • They must isolate for at least 5 days (date of symptom onset is day 0) and until symptoms are improving and they do not have a fever for at least 24 hours.
  • They must continue to wear a mask once they leave isolation until 10 days from symptom onset.

Individuals unwilling or unable to wear a mask would need to isolate for the full 10-day period.

Updated Recommendations for Close Contacts

What to do after exposure:

    • Wear a well-fitting mask at home and in public for 10 days.
    • Get tested for COVID-19 at least 5 days after exposure.
    • Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 10 days after your last exposure.
    • Take extra precautions if you will be around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
    • If you live with someone with COVID-19, avoid sharing the same space within the home. (Use a different bedroom or bathroom if you can.)
    • Avoid travel.

Following an exposure to COVID-19, everyone, regardless of vaccination status:

    • Should get tested for COVID-19 on day 5, if possible, after exposure.
    • Quarantine immediately if any symptoms develop until they receive a negative COVID-19 test confirming symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.

For more information and infographics, please visit the Isolation/Quarantine tab.

 Community Resources
Worker Resources for Working Safely and Worker Rights
COVID-19 Shopping Tips - Spanish 
COVID -19 Scam Warnings