How Long Should You Quarantine For COVID-19?

If you’re concerned about being exposed to COVID-19, you might be wondering how long you should quarantine for. The answer depends on a few factors, including whether you’re vaccinated, have symptoms, and are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19.

In this article, we’ll break down the quarantine guidelines for different situations and provide helpful tips for staying safe during the quarantine period.

Keep reading to learn more about COVID-19 quarantine guidelines and how to protect yourself and others from the virus.

How Long Should You Quarantine For COVID-19

Follow these guidelines to stay safe:

Vaccinated, no symptoms: 5 days
Vaccinated, symptoms: 10 days
Unvaccinated, no symptoms: 10 days
Unvaccinated, symptoms: 10 days
Close contact, vaccinated: 5 days
Close contact, unvaccinated: 10 days
Positive test, recovered: 10 days
Travel-related exposure: Follow CDC guidelines

Remember: Quarantine helps prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Vaccinated, No Symptoms: 5 Days

If you’re fully vaccinated and have no symptoms of COVID-19, you should quarantine for 5 days after your last exposure to someone with COVID-19.

Day 0: Count the day of your last exposure as Day 0.
Days 1-5: Stay home and monitor yourself for symptoms. Avoid contact with others, especially those who are at high risk for severe illness.
Day 6: If you’re still symptom-free, you can leave quarantine. However, continue to wear a mask in public and avoid large gatherings for the next 5 days.
Days 6-10: Continue to monitor yourself for symptoms. If you develop any symptoms, isolate yourself and get tested for COVID-19.

Remember: Even if you’re vaccinated, you can still spread COVID-19 to others if you’re infected. By following these quarantine guidelines, you can help protect yourself and others from the virus.

Vaccinated, Symptoms: 10 Days

If you’re fully vaccinated and have symptoms of COVID-19, you should quarantine for 10 days after your symptoms first appear.

Day 0: Count the day your symptoms first appeared as Day 0.
Days 1-10: Stay home and isolate yourself from others. Avoid contact with everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated.
Day 11: If you’re fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms are improving, you can leave quarantine. However, continue to wear a mask in public and avoid large gatherings for the next 5 days.
Days 11-15: Continue to monitor yourself for symptoms. If your symptoms worsen or you develop new symptoms, isolate yourself and get tested for COVID-19.

Unvaccinated, No Symptoms: 10 Days

If you’re unvaccinated and have no symptoms of COVID-19, you should quarantine for 10 days after your last exposure to someone with COVID-19.

Day 0: Count the day of your last exposure as Day 0.
Days 1-10: Stay home and monitor yourself for symptoms. Avoid contact with others, especially those who are at high risk for severe illness.
Day 11: If you’re still symptom-free, you can leave quarantine. However, continue to wear a mask in public and avoid large gatherings for the next 5 days.
Days 11-15: Continue to monitor yourself for symptoms. If you develop any symptoms, isolate yourself and get tested for COVID-19.

Remember: Even if you’re unvaccinated and don’t have symptoms, you can still spread COVID-19 to others if you’re infected. By following these quarantine guidelines, you can help protect yourself and others from the virus.

Unvaccinated, Symptoms: 10 Days

If you’re unvaccinated and have symptoms of COVID-19, you should quarantine for 10 days after your symptoms first appear.

Day 0: Count the day your symptoms first appeared as Day 0.
Days 1-10: Stay home and isolate yourself from others. Avoid contact with everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated.
Day 11: If you’re fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms are improving, you can leave quarantine. However, continue to wear a mask in public and avoid large gatherings for the next 5 days.
Days 11-15: Continue to monitor yourself for symptoms. If your symptoms worsen or you develop new symptoms, isolate yourself and get tested for COVID-19.

Remember: Even if you’re unvaccinated, you can still spread COVID-19 to others if you’re infected. By following these quarantine guidelines, you can help protect yourself and others from the virus.

Close Contact, Vaccinated: 5 Days

If you’re fully vaccinated and have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should quarantine for 5 days after your last exposure.

Day 0: Count the day of your last exposure as Day 0.
Days 1-5: Stay home and monitor yourself for symptoms. Avoid contact with others, especially those who are at high risk for severe illness.
Day 6: If you’re still symptom-free, you can leave quarantine. However, continue to wear a mask in public and avoid large gatherings for the next 5 days.
Days 6-10: Continue to monitor yourself for symptoms. If you develop any symptoms, isolate yourself and get tested for COVID-19.

Close Contact, Unvaccinated: 10 Days

If you’re unvaccinated and have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should quarantine for 10 days after your last exposure.

What does it mean to be in close contact?

Spending more than 15 minutes within 6 feet of an infected person, regardless of whether either person is wearing a mask.
Sharing the same indoor airspace, such as a classroom or office, with an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, even if the infected person is more than 6 feet away.
Having direct physical contact with an infected person, such as hugging, kissing, or sharing food or drinks.

Quarantine guidelines for unvaccinated close contacts:

Day 0: Count the day of your last exposure as Day 0.
Days 1-10: Stay home and isolate yourself from others. Avoid contact with everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated.
Day 11: If you’re fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms are improving, you can leave quarantine. However, continue to wear a mask in public and avoid large gatherings for the next 5 days.
Days 11-15: Continue to monitor yourself for symptoms. If your symptoms worsen or you develop new symptoms, isolate yourself and get tested for COVID-19.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19. Vaccines are safe and effective, and they significantly reduce your risk of getting sick from the virus. If you’re unvaccinated, please consider getting vaccinated as soon as possible.

Positive Test, Recovered: 10 Days

If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and have recovered, you should still quarantine for 10 days after your symptoms first appeared.

Day 0: Count the day your symptoms first appeared as Day 0.
Days 1-10: Stay home and isolate yourself from others. Avoid contact with everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated.
Day 11: If you’re fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms are improving, you can leave quarantine. However, continue to wear a mask in public and avoid large gatherings for the next 5 days.
Days 11-15: Continue to monitor yourself for symptoms. If your symptoms worsen or you develop new symptoms, isolate yourself and get tested for COVID-19.

Remember: Even if you’ve recovered from COVID-19, you can still spread the virus to others if you’re still infected. By following these quarantine guidelines, you can help protect yourself and others from the virus.

Travel-Related Exposure: Follow CDC Guidelines

If you’ve traveled to an area with a high risk of COVID-19, you should follow the CDC’s guidelines for international travel.

Fully vaccinated travelers:

Get tested for COVID-19 3-5 days after your trip.
Self-quarantine for 5 days if you test positive or develop symptoms.
Wear a mask in public indoor settings for 10 days after your trip.
Avoid contact with people who are at high risk for severe illness for 10 days after your trip.

Unvaccinated travelers:

Get tested for COVID-19 3-5 days after your trip.
Self-quarantine for 10 days after your trip, regardless of your test result.
Avoid contact with people who are at high risk for severe illness for 10 days after your trip.

Regardless of your vaccination status, you should:

Monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19 for 10 days after your trip.
Get tested for COVID-19 if you develop any symptoms.
Follow all local and state quarantine and isolation requirements.

The CDC’s guidelines for international travel are subject to change. Please check the CDC’s website for the latest information before you travel.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about quarantine guidelines for COVID-19:

Question 1: How long should I quarantine if I’m vaccinated and have no symptoms?
Answer 1: If you’re fully vaccinated and have no symptoms, you should quarantine for 5 days after your last exposure to someone with COVID-19.

Question 2: How long should I quarantine if I’m vaccinated and have symptoms?
Answer 2: If you’re fully vaccinated and have symptoms of COVID-19, you should quarantine for 10 days after your symptoms first appear.

Question 3: How long should I quarantine if I’m unvaccinated and have no symptoms?
Answer 3: If you’re unvaccinated and have no symptoms, you should quarantine for 10 days after your last exposure to someone with COVID-19.

Question 4: How long should I quarantine if I’m unvaccinated and have symptoms?
Answer 4: If you’re unvaccinated and have symptoms of COVID-19, you should quarantine for 10 days after your symptoms first appear.

Question 5: How long should I quarantine if I’m a close contact of someone with COVID-19?
Answer 5: If you’re a close contact of someone with COVID-19, you should quarantine for 5 days if you’re vaccinated and 10 days if you’re unvaccinated.

Question 6: How long should I quarantine if I’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered?
Answer 6: If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered, you should still quarantine for 10 days after your symptoms first appeared.

Question 7: What should I do if I’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19?
Answer 7: If you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should get tested for the virus and follow the quarantine guidelines based on your vaccination status and symptoms.

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If you have any other questions about quarantine guidelines for COVID-19, please consult your healthcare provider or local public health department.

Now that you know how long to quarantine for COVID-19, here are some tips to help you stay safe and healthy during your quarantine period.

Tips

Here are some practical tips to help you stay safe and healthy during your quarantine period for COVID-19:

Tip 1: Stay in a separate room, if possible.

If you can, stay in a separate room from other people in your household. This will help to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others.

Tip 2: Wear a mask when you’re around others.

Even if you’re vaccinated, you should still wear a mask when you’re around other people in your household. This will help to protect them from the virus.

Tip 3: Wash your hands frequently.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This will help to remove the virus from your hands and prevent you from spreading it to others.

Tip 4: Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly.

Clean and disinfect surfaces in your room and bathroom regularly. This will help to kill the virus and prevent it from spreading.

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By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 during your quarantine period.

Remember, quarantine is an important step in preventing the spread of COVID-19. By following these tips, you can help to keep yourself and your community safe.

Conclusion

Summary of Main Points:

Quarantine guidelines for COVID-19 vary depending on your vaccination status, symptoms, and exposure to the virus.
If you’re vaccinated and have no symptoms, you should quarantine for 5 days after your last exposure.
If you’re vaccinated and have symptoms, you should quarantine for 10 days after your symptoms first appear.
If you’re unvaccinated and have no symptoms, you should quarantine for 10 days after your last exposure.
If you’re unvaccinated and have symptoms, you should quarantine for 10 days after your symptoms first appear.
If you’re a close contact of someone with COVID-19, you should quarantine for 5 days if you’re vaccinated and 10 days if you’re unvaccinated.
If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered, you should still quarantine for 10 days after your symptoms first appeared.

Closing Message:

Quarantine is an important step in preventing the spread of COVID-19. By following the quarantine guidelines, you can help to protect yourself and others from the virus. If you have any questions about quarantine, please consult your healthcare provider or local public health department.

Remember, we’re all in this together. By working together, we can overcome this pandemic.