Exposure FAQ

 

What Counts as a Close Contact?

You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period AND one or both parties was not wearing a mask
• You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
• You shared eating or drinking utensils
• They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you

Steps to Take Right Away

  1. Let your work supervisor and close contacts know that you need to quarantine.
  2. If you do not meet critical worker criteria, stay home and monitor your health.
  3. Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
  4. Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste and smell, and other symptoms of COVID-19.
  5. If possible, stay away from others even within your own home, especially those who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19.

Scenarios

Scenario 1

I had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 and will not have further contact or interactions with the person while they are sick (e.g., co-worker, neighbor, or friend).

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

Scenario 2

I live with someone who has Covid-19 (e.g., roommate, spouse, child), and that person has isolated by staying in a separate bedroom, using their own bathroom, disinfecting often, using disposable utensils and meals and beverages are provided without contact. I have had no close contact with the person since they isolated.

Your last day of quarantine is 14 days from when the person with COVID-19 began home isolation

Scenario 3

I live with someone who has Covid-19 and started my 14-day quarantine period because we had close contact. What if another household member gets sick with Covid-19? Do I need to restart my quarantine?

Yes. You will have to restart your quarantine from the last day you had close contact with anyone in your house who has COVID-19. Any time a new household member gets sick with COVID-19 and you had close contact, you will need to restart your quarantine.

Scenario 4

I live in a household where I cannot avoid close contact with the person who has COVID-19. I am providing direct care to the person who is sick, don’t have a separate bedroom to isolate the person who is sick, or live in close quarters where I am unable to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.

You should avoid contact with others outside the home while the person is sick, and quarantine for 14 days after the person who has COVID-19 meets the criteria to end home isolation.

Scenario 5

I live in a household where I cannot avoid close contact with the person who has COVID-19. I am providing direct care to the person who is sick, don’t have a separate bedroom to isolate the person who is sick, or live in close quarters where I am unable to keep a physical distance of 6 feet. I become sick 11 days after my first close contact.

You should avoid contact with others outside the home until you have met criteria to end home isolation (10 days from symptom onset as long as you are not immunocompromised, are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications, and have improving symptoms). Your total quarantine plus isolation period would be at least 21 days (more if you were not well at 10 days of isolation or are immunocompromised).

Please note: If your quarantine starts at noon on day one, then it would end at noon on the last day.