In line with CDC, New York eases quarantine for exposed individuals

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Asymptomatic individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 can now end their quarantine after 10 days in New York under new guidance the governor announced Tuesday. 

That's down from the 14-day period recommended since the pandemic began. New York and other states have eased their guidance in light of recommendations released earlier this month by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said individuals exposed to the virus can now end their quarantine after 10 days without a test as long as they experienced no symptoms during the quarantine period.

Then, individuals must keep monitoring for symptoms through day 14 and self-isolate and contact health officials if they experience symptoms.

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Cuomo urged all to keep wearing masks, avoid gatherings and socially distance. 

The state is bracing for a potential post-holiday surge as hospitals continue to face an uptick that began in early October. 

Hospitalizations reached more than 7,800 as of Monday, the highest since about 8,200 on May 7. The state has averaged 873 new COVID-19 patients entering hospitals each day over the past week.

The number of new COVID-19 cases in New York has flattened over the past week: The state averaged about 11,000 daily new cases over the past seven days, up 7% from 10,300 seven days ago. 

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Still, the state has reported more new cases per-capita than 30 other states — including Texas, Florida and New Jersey — on average over the past seven days. 

The state first alerted healthcare providers and local health departments of the change in a Dec. 26 memo. 

Assisted living and nursing home staffers who were exposed to COVID-19 can end quarantine after 10 days without symptoms, but they must remain furloughed from work for 14 days.