If you were within six feet of a person while they were infectious with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more, you should go into quarantine for 14 days, even if you test negative or don’t feel sick.
If you develop symptoms or test positive, you should go into isolation starting that day. Isolation is for people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. If you have COVID-19, being in isolation means you must stay home and away from others while you are infectious in order to stop the spread of the virus to anyone else.
COVID-19 GUIDANCE FOR SELF HOME QUARANTINE
WHAT IS QUARANTINE?
Quarantine is an important way to stop the spread of COVID-19. It means staying home and away from others after you have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.
If you are a close contact to a person with COVID-19, you need to quarantine for 14 days from the time of the exposure. Close contact, generally, means you were within 6 feet of the person for at least 15 minutes total while they were infectious. COVID-19 patients are considered infectious two days before their symptoms started, or two days before their positive test if they do not develop symptoms.
If you are a close contact, you need to quarantine even if you don’t feel sick and even if you have received a negative test for COVID-19.
LENGTH OF QUARANTINE
The incubation period of the virus that causes COVID-19 is up to 14 days. Therefore, the quarantine period needs to last 14 days from the most recent exposure to the positive patient. If you are exposed again during quarantine, the 14-day period must start over again.
If you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 during the quarantine period, you must follow the instructions for isolating yourself.
RESTRICTIONS DURING QUARANTINE
- Remain at home and avoid all public activities. This means do not go to work, church, school, stores (including grocery stores), nor any public events or places.
- Do not have visitors in your home.
- If you live in a home with other people, stay in a separate room. If that is not possible, wear a face mask when you are in the same room as others and stay at least 6 feet away from them (i.e. practice social distancing even in your home).
- Wash your hands and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often. Do not share personal items such as dishes, cups, forks, spoons, towels, etc.
- Do not leave your home except to get urgent or emergency medical care. If you need to see a doctor for reasons other than a medical emergency, please call your medical provider ahead of time to make proper arrangements.
- In the event of a medical emergency, call 911. Tell them that you are in home quarantine due to possible COVID-19Â exposure. Keep a face mask on until a health care provider asks you to remove it. If you do not have a mask, use a folded kerchief or other similar device to cover your nose and mouth.
- Do not use any public transportation (buses, taxis, ride share services, or airplane).
- Check yourself for fever twice a day. This means taking your temperature in the morning and before bed at night and writing down the reading each time. The ADH will need this information to determine when you are able to resume normal activities or if you need additional care.
- If you begin to have symptoms such as fever, cough, or trouble breathing, or if you otherwise feel sick, contact your health care provider.
COVID-19 GUIDANCE FOR SELF HOME ISOLATION
WHAT IS ISOLATION?
Isolation is for people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
If you have COVID-19, being in isolation means you must stay home and away from others while you are infectious in order to stop the spread of the virus to anyone else.
LENGTH OF ISOLATION
If you have COVID-19 with mild symptoms, you must isolate until:
- 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared AND
- You have not had fever of 100.4° F or higher for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine AND
- Your symptoms, such as cough or shortness of breath, are improving.
​If you have COVID-19 and are not experiencing any symptoms, you must isolate until:
- 10 days have passed and no symptoms have developed since your positive COVID-19 test.
If you have severe COVID-19 and have been hospitalized or if you have a weakened immune system, you must isolate until:
- 20 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared AND
- You have not had fever of 100.4° F or higher for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine AND
- Your symptoms, such as cough or shortness of breath, are improving.
RESTRICTIONS DURING ISOLATION
- Remain at home and avoid all public activities. This means do not go to work, church, school, stores (including grocery stores), nor any public events or places.
- Do not have visitors in your home.
- If you live in a home with other people, stay in a separate room. If that is not possible, wear a face mask when you are in the same room as others and stay at least 6 feet away from them (i.e. practice social distancing even in your home).
- Wash your hands and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often. Do not share personal items such as dishes, cups, forks, spoons, towels, etc.
- Do not leave your home except to get urgent or emergency medical care. If you need to see a doctor for reasons other than a medical emergency, please call your medical provider ahead of time to make proper arrangements.
- In the event of a medical emergency, call 911. Tell them that you are in home isolation due to COVID-19 infection. Keep a face mask on until a health care provider asks you to remove it. If you do not have a mask, use a folded kerchief or other similar device to cover your nose and mouth.
- Do not use any public transportation (buses, taxis, ride share services, or airplane).
- Check yourself for fever twice a day. This means taking your temperature in the morning and before bed at night and writing down the reading each time. The ADH will need this information to determine when you are able to resume normal activities or if you need additional care.
- If you begin to have additional symptoms, or if you otherwise feel sick, contact your health care provider.
