When should I start and end quarantine?

When should I start and end quarantine?

If you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 and you have:

• Received a booster dose or completed the 2 dose series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in the past 6 months or received the J&J vaccine in the past 2 months, you should:
• Wear a mask around other people for 10 days
• Test on day 5, if possible
• If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home

• Completed the 2 dose series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago, or received the J&J vaccine over 2 months ago, and have not received a booster dose or have never been vaccinated you should:
• Stay home for 5 days, after that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days
• If you can’t quarantine you must wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days
• Test on day 5, if possible
• If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home

This period begins from the last close contact you had with someone who has COVID-19, even if you test negative for COVID-19 or feel healthy. The length of time to quarantine may be decided by your state or local department of health. You should adhere to recommendations set forth by the department of health, as they may differ from the CDC’s guidelines.

If you live in a household where you cannot avoid close contact with the person who has COVID-19, you should quarantine immediately. You will need to continue to quarantine after the person meets criteria to end home isolation, as recommended by the CDC, unless otherwise specified. 

For additional questions about when to start or stop quarantine, be sure to contact your healthcare provider.