Quarantine and Self-Isolation Protocols
How Is Quarantine Different From Isolation?
Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms.
People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department.
Isolation separates people who are infected with the virus away from people who are not infected.
Do I Need To Quarantine Or Isolate?
Who needs to quarantine?
Anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. What is close contact?
- You were within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes
- You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
- You had direct physical contact with the person (touched, hugged, or kissed them)
- You shared eating or drinking utensils
- They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you
Who needs to isolate?
Anyone who has COVID-19
- You have symptoms of COVID-19
- You have no symptoms (are asymptomatic) but have tested positive for COVID-19