What to do if you’re exposed to COVID
Cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, and with the majority now coming from the delta variant of the virus, taking steps to quarantine against possible exposure is as important as ever.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are different steps you can take if you know or suspect you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, both for people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated.
If you have been in close contact — meaning six feet or closer for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period — with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, the best immediate step is to quarantine. Here’s how to properly quarantine:
h Stay at home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
h Watch for symptoms, including a fever of 100.4 degrees, cough, shortness of breath or other signs of COVID-19.
h If possible, stay away from people you live with, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19.
After your quarantine is over, watch for symptoms until 14 days after the exposure. If you have symptoms, self-isolate immediately and contact your local public health authority and health care provider.
There are ways to shorten quarantines, which could include stopping at 10 days instead of 14 without testing or after Day 7 of receiving a negative test. To stop after Day 7, the negative test must occur on Day 5 or later, the CDC says.
To be safe, the CDC says to follow recommendations for quarantines from your local health department.
Do you need to quarantine if you’re fully vaccinated?
No. The CDC says people who are fully vaccinated don’t need to quarantine after being in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, unless they have symptoms.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful, however. Vaccinated people should still get tested three to five days after exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. After the exposure, you should also wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days, or until your test result is negative.
What happens if you test positive and have no symptoms?
If there are no symptoms, the CDC says you can be around others after 10 days have passed since your positive test.
What’s the difference between quarantine and isolation?
Quarantines are used for people who have been potentially exposed, and isolation is for those who have been infected with COVID-19.
People in isolation should stay home until its safe to be around others, and stay in a separate room or area and use a separate bathroom, if possible, if living in a shared space.
To effectively isolate from others, the CDC recommends:
Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign, including trouble breathing, seek medical care immediately.
h Stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom from other household members, if possible.
h Avoid contact with other household members and pets.
h Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels and utensils.
h If able, wear a mask when you’re around other people.