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Self-Quarantine

Quarantine is used for people who are not currently sick, but have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 or who have been in a geographic area with widespread community-transmitted COVID-19. The measures listed below are taken as a preventative measure in case the individual who was exposed becomes ill. Persons exposed usually begin to show signs of illness within 2 to 14 days.

What Does Quarantine Look Like?

For 10-14 days after your last contact with the person who has COVID-19:

  • Stay home. This means do not go to school, work, public areas, or attend large gatherings, such as parties, weddings, meetings and sporting events. If you need medical care, call your healthcare provider. Call ahead before going to a medical facility. Tell the staff about your symptoms and that you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19, or that you have traveled to an area of concern.
  • Do not use public transportation, ride-sharing or taxis.
  • Do not go out to restaurants or have guests over to your house.
  • Postpone any travel.
  • Wash hands often and practice good hygiene.
  • As long as you feel well, you may leave the home (in a private vehicle) for a limited time to take care of routine and necessary activities, such as grocery shopping or visiting the pharmacy. Try to avoid busy times of day.
  • Postpone all non-urgent medical appointments (for example, dental cleaning, eye exam, routine check-up) until you are out of quarantine. If you have an essential appointment during the quarantine, please call your provider ahead of time.
  • Consider minimizing contact with people and animals in your home (stay in your own room and, if possible, use your own bathroom).
  • Avoid sharing personal household items such as dishes, towels and bedding.

If healthy, you can be released from the quarantine 10-14 days after the last time you were in close contact with, or shared an indoor living environment with, someone who has COVID-19. Day 1 of the quarantine for someone living with you will be the day after you are free of fever, productive cough and other acute symptoms of respiratory infection. This does not apply to family members who work in healthcare, they are to reach out to their employer to give them directions.

If your family members or close contacts develop any new onset of respiratory symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat) they need to reach out to their healthcare provider immediately.