Masking in our Offices
Masks will now be optional for patients and guests. Masking is encouraged under the following circumstances:
- You have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days;
- You are experiencing symptoms* of a respiratory illness;
- You have a healthcare provider recommendation or personal preference to wear a mask.
*Cough or shortness of breath, fever or chills, new muscle aches, change in taste or smell.
Isolation and Quarantine
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has published a comprehensive guide for isolation and precautions for people with COVID-19, including an Isolation and Exposure Calculator.
Isolation
- Stay home and away from others. Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others.
- Start counting days. Day 0 is the day your symptoms started. If you never had symptoms, Day 0 is the day you took a COVID-19 test.
- Isolate to Day 6 or later if you never had symptoms or symptoms are improving, AND are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
- Continue to isolate if your fever persists or other symptoms have not improved.
- Isolate through Day 10 if:
- You experienced moderate illness, like shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
- You were hospitalized or have a weakened immune system – talk with your healthcare provider.
You may remove your mask after completing Day 10. You may remove your mask sooner than Day 10 if you take 2 antigen tests 48 hours apart and both are negative.
Quarantine
- After being exposed to COVID-19, start precautions immediately by wearing a mask.
- Start counting from Day 1: Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19. Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.
- You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed, so continue precautions for 10 full days.
- Wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N-95) any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public.
- Get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure (Day 6). Test even if you don’t develop symptoms. If you test POSITIVE, isolate immediately. If you test NEGATIVE, continue taking precautions through Day 10.
COVID-19 Vaccines
The CDC recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older should get at least 1 updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date.
We are currently awaiting shipment of the updated COVID vaccine from the state of New Hampshire.
In the meantime, the state has put together maps of vaccine providers for ages 6 months to 4 years and ages 5 to 11 years. CVS will administer COVID vaccines to children as young as 18 months, while Rite Aid, Walmart, and Walgreens will vaccinate children ages 3 years and over.
If you would prefer to get an earliest available appointment at a location outside of our offices, click here to find a vaccine appointment near you.
COVID-19 Testing
Pediatric Associates has same-day in-house molecular/PCR testing capabilities in our Hampton & Portsmouth offices.
Any COVID-19 PCRs that cannot be run in office will be sent out to Seacoast Pathology for processing.
If you have further questions about testing, please call our offices.
If your child tests positive on an at-home antigen test, consider this a true positive and send us a photo through the patient portal so that we can document your child’s COVID-19 infection.
COVID-19 Treatments and Medications
The FDA has authorized antiviral medications to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in people who are more likely to get very sick. The most common oral antiviral – a pill that stops the virus that causes COVID-19 from making copies of itself in your body – is called Paxlovid.
- Who is eligible for Paxlovid? Adults and children (12 years of age and older, weighing at least 88 pounds), who are at high risk for getting very sick from COVID-19 and who have mild to moderate symptoms.
- When should your child use Paxlovid? If eligible, your child should start using oral antivirals as soon as possible – no later than 5 days after their first symptoms appear. These pills are taken at home two times a day for 5 days.
- How can you get Paxlovid for your child? Paxlovid is available with a prescription from a health care provider and through the Test to Treat program. It may also be prescribed by a state-licensed pharmacist.
Because your child’s symptoms, medical history, and list of current medications must be reviewed by a medical provider, we require a televisit at minimum before prescribing Paxlovid. This provides us with the opportunity to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment.
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, please visit CDC or the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
COVID-19: What Families Need to Know (via HealthyChildren.org)
COVID Vaccine Checklist for Kids (via HealthyChildren.org)
Last updated 10/7/23
