COVID-19: When to Quarantine | CDC

People who were in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 – excluding anyone who has had COVID-19 in the past 3 months.

People who test positive for COVID-19 do not need to be quarantined or retested for up to 3 months as long as they no longer develop symptoms. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first COVID-19 attack may need to be retested if no other cause for their symptoms has been identified.

What counts as close contact?

You have been within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
You were caring for someone at home who had COVID-19
You have had direct physical contact with the person (hugging or kissing)
They shared eating or drinking utensils
They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got droplets of breath on you

Stay home and monitor your health

Stay home 14 days after your last contact with someone with COVID-19
Watch for a fever (100.4 ° F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19
If possible, stay away from others, especially those who are at higher risk of developing COVID-19

Confirmed and suspected cases of reinfection of the virus causing COVID-19

Cases of re-infection from COVID-19 have been reported but are rare. In general, re-infection means that a person has become infected (sick) once, has recovered, and is later reinfected. Based on what we know of similar viruses, some new infections are expected.

When should the quarantine start and end?

You should stay home 14 days after your last contact with someone with COVID-19.

In all of the following scenarios, even if you get a negative COVID-19 test or feel healthy, you should stay home (quarantine), as symptoms can appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

The following scenarios can help you determine when you can end the quarantine and be with others.

Scenario 1: Close contact with someone who has COVID-19 – has no further close contact

I have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 and has no further contact or interactions with the person while they are sick (e.g. coworker, neighbor, or friend).

Your last day of quarantine is 14 days from the date you were in close contact.

Date of last close contact with a person with COVID-19 + 14 days = end of quarantine

Please note that if your quarantine starts at 12 noon on the first day, it will end at 12 noon on the last day.

Scenario 2: Close contact with someone who has COVID-19 – live with the person but you can avoid further close contact

I live with someone who has COVID-19 (e.g. roommate, partner, family member) and that person has isolated themselves by living in a separate bedroom. I haven't had close contact with the person since they became isolated.

Your last day of quarantine is 14 days after the person with COVID-19 began being isolated

Date person with COVID-19 started home isolation + 14 days = end of quarantine

Please note that if your quarantine starts at 12 noon on the first day, it will end at 12 noon on the last day.

Scenario 3. Quarantined and had additional close contact with someone who has COVID-19

I live with someone who has COVID-19 and has started my 14 day quarantine period because we were in close contact. What if I had close contact with the person who is sick during my quarantine? What if another member of the household gets COVID-19? Do I have to restart my quarantine?

Yes. You will need to restart your quarantine from the last day you were in close contact with someone in your home who has COVID-19. Every time a new household member falls ill with COVID-19 and you have been in close contactyou have to restart your quarantine.

Date of additional close contact with a person with COVID-19 + 14 days = end of quarantine

Please note that if your quarantine starts at 12 noon on the first day, it will end at 12 noon on the last day.

Scenario 4: Live with someone who has COVID-19 and cannot avoid continued close contact

I live in a household where I cannot avoid close contact with the person with COVID-19. I take care of the sick person directly, don't have a separate bedroom to isolate the sick person, or live in tight spaces where I can't physically be 6 feet apart.

You should avoid contact with anyone outside the home while the person is sick and quarantine for 14 days after the person with COVID-19 meets the home isolation criteria.

Date the person with COVID-19 ended the isolation at home + 14 days = end of quarantine

Please note that your quarantine ends at 12 noon on the first day and ends at 12 noon on the last day.