COVID-19 Information

For asymptomatic people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, the current recommendation is to wait at least 5-6 days before getting tested.  However, even if you have a negative test, it may take up to 11 days after an exposure for an asymptomatic person to test positive.   Most people who will develop symptoms will do so by 14 days after exposure.  The best practice is for someone to self-quarantine during the 14 day period. 

A close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of someone who tests positive for at least 15 minutes.  The risk of transmission would be lower if both people are wearing masks and have not touched each other.

These are the current quarantine guidelines according to the CDC:

For people with proven or presumed COVID:

  • 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
  • 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
  • Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving (loss of taste and smell may last longer and do not affect quarantine time)

These websites address how to handle quarantine for those who are sick and those who have been exposed, including household contacts: 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/end-home-isolation.html