The following definitions are provided to maintain consistent definitions for service members affected by COVID-19:
Active Monitoring: State or local public health authority assumes responsibility for establishing regular communication with potentially exposed people to assess for the presence of fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. For those with high-risk exposures, CDC recommends this communication occurs at least once daily.
Conditional Release: A set of legally enforceable conditions under which a person may be released from more stringent public health movement restrictions, such as quarantine in a secure facility. These conditions may include public health supervision through in-person visits by a health official or designee or alternative communication. A conditional release order may also place limits on travel or require restriction of a person’s movement outside their home.
Deaths: Individuals with loss of life and at least one positive COVID-19 lab test.
Hospitalized Case: Individuals admitted to the hospital with at least one positive COVID-19 lab test
Isolation: Separates sick people known or reasonably believed to be infected with a communicable disease and potentially infectious from those who are not infected
Person At Risk: An individual without symptoms that include the following
- Has a history of travel to/through/from affected geographic areas
- Has close contact with a suspected or positive COVID-19 patient
Close Contact: being within approximately 6 feet of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time –or– having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on)
Person Under Investigation (PUI): An individual awaiting test results with symptoms that include the following:
- Fever and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness (cough/difficulty breathing)
- Had close contact with a suspected or positive COVID-19 patient within 14 days of symptom onset
- A history of travel to/through/from an affected geographic area within 14 days of their symptom onset
Positive Case: Individuals with at least one positive COVID-19 lab test
Quarantine: Separate and restrict the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease but not yet symptomatic to see if they become sick to prevent the possible spread of the communicable disease
Self-monitoring: Monitor themselves for fever by taking their temperatures twice a day and remain alert for cough or difficulty breathing. If symptoms occur, they should self-isolate and seek medical advice from a healthcare provider or their local health department via telephone to determine if medical evaluation is needed
Self-monitoring with Delegated Supervision: for certain occupational groups (e.g., some healthcare or laboratory personnel), self-monitoring with oversight by the appropriate occupational health or infection control program in coordination with the health department of jurisdiction. The occupational health or infection control personnel should establish points of contact between the organization, the self-monitoring personnel, and the local or state health departments with jurisdiction for the location of self-monitoring. This should include a plan for medical evaluation, how to notify occupational health and the local public health authority, transportation arrangements to a pre-designated hospital, if medically necessary. The supervising organization should remain in contact with personnel through the self-monitoring period to oversee self-monitoring activities
Self-monitoring with Public Health Supervision: Public health authorities assume the responsibility for oversight of the self-monitoring for certain groups of people (e.g., travelers whom public health supervision is recommended at US port of entry)
Self-observation: Individuals remain alert for fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. If symptoms develop, begin self-monitoring phase
Recovered Patients: Individuals who have tested positive and medical professionals have determined the individual has:
- Resolution of fever, without the use of antipyretic medication
- An improvement in illness signs/symptoms
- Two consecutive sets of negative COVID-19 lab tests collected ≥24 hours apart