MICHIGAN - The state of Michigan has officially entered a post surge, recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lack of positive cases has allowed the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to update their isolation and quarantine guidelines.

Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate at home for five days regardless of your vaccination status. If symptoms have improved after the allotted time you may return to day-to-day activities, while wearing a mask for an additional five days. If a fever remains you must continue isolating until 24 hours after symptoms have stopped, not including help from fever reducing medication.

You should still notify anyone you may have come in contact with before a positive COVID-19 test was received, specifically immunocompromised or high-risk individuals.

For individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 from close friends or members of the same household, you should monitor your symptoms and wear a mask in public settings for 10 days after exposure. At least one test should be taken sometime between three to seven days after exposure.

Anyone who has been exposed from social or work settings are encouraged to wear a mask for 10 days after exposure and regularly monitor symptoms as well.

Additionally, Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Child Care Guidelines have been updated to correlate recommendations for K-12 students. These updates are expected to make navigating COVID-19 easier for child care professionals and families.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive, says these changes reflect the current number of COVID-19 cases, however the MDHHS will continue prioritizing public health in all communities. Bagdasarian still strongly encourages all eligible residents to receive the vaccine.