Quarantine refers to the precautions taken by individuals who have been in contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19 and may become ill. Those in quarantine should stay home and wear a mask around others while monitoring their symptoms. American health experts have provided a set of precautions for individuals if they contract COVID-19, depending on their symptoms and vaccination status. Here’s what you need to know.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. indicates that whether you need to quarantine or isolate depends on your COVID-19 test status. According to a report from "The Conversation," isolation refers to keeping individuals infected with COVID-19 away from those who are not sick. Isolated individuals should remain home and, if possible, use separate rooms and bathrooms from non-sick people in their households.
**Who Should Quarantine?**
Unvaccinated adults, partially vaccinated adults, and fully vaccinated adults who have not received a booster dose should quarantine if they were in close contact with a person infected with COVID-19 at a distance of less than 6 feet for at least 15 minutes. Those in these groups should stay home and away from others for at least 5 days from the date of exposure and monitor their symptoms for 10 days. The CDC considers the day of exposure as day 0.
If you do not have symptoms, you should test for COVID-19 on day five. If the test result is negative, you can leave your house but must continue to wear a mask around others until day ten. The same guidelines apply if you do not have symptoms and are unable to get tested.
If the test result is positive and you do not have symptoms, you should isolate for at least five days from the date of the test. If you develop symptoms at any time, you should get tested and follow isolation guidelines. If you are unable to quarantine, you should wear a mask around others for 10 days after the date of exposure.
**Who Does Not Need to Quarantine?**
According to the CDC, fully vaccinated adults, children aged 5 to 17 who are fully vaccinated, and individuals who have had a COVID-19 infection in the last 90 days do not need to quarantine after close contact. Those in these groups should wear a mask around others for 10 days after the date of contact. They should get tested on day five. Individuals who tested positive in the last 90 days do not need to be tested again as long as they do not exhibit symptoms. If the test result is positive or if symptoms appear at any time, isolation guidelines should be followed.
**What Are the Isolation Guidelines?**
Federal health authorities state that individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or exhibit symptoms should isolate themselves. The duration of isolation depends on your symptoms. Day 0 is the day your symptoms begin or the date of your positive test if you are asymptomatic.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you can end isolation after five full days as long as you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. You should also wear a mask around others for an additional five days. If you have COVID-19 symptoms but do not meet the above criteria on day five, wait until you meet the criteria to end isolation.
