What should I do if I am in quarantine for exposure to a case?

Those who are under a home quarantine should not attend school, work or any other setting where they are not able to maintain about a 6-foot distance from other people. If they are able to attend settings where they can maintain this recommendation for a 6-foot distance from others, then they can attend.

While at home:

  • Monitor your symptoms. Watch for fever, cough or trouble breathing. A symptoms log is included at the end of this document. If symptoms develop during the quarantine period, please notify your local health department. See Updated Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for length of quarantine periods
  • If you become ill and need to seek medical attention:
  • Before seeking care, call your healthcare provider and tell them that you have recently traveled recently or that you have been otherwise exposed to COVID-19.
  • Put on a facemask before you enter the healthcare facility to help prevent further spread to other people in your healthcare provider’s office or waiting room.
  • If you need to seek medical care for other reasons, such as dialysis, call ahead to your doctor and tell them about your recent travel to an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19.
  • People under quarantine[GC[1]  should consider wearing a facemask while at home because both asymptomatic and symptomatic people can spread the virus and wearing a facemask may help protect the people you live with.
  • If possible, separate yourself from other people in your home. Stay in a different room from others and use a separate bathroom, if available.
  • Cough or sneeze into the fold of your elbow. Alternatively, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60-95% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day. High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions.