Exposure
So the rules about who needs to do what, after they get exposed to a person with COVID-19 or test positive, have changed multiple times - Kara Gavin
image by: Houston Health Department
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What to do if you test positive for COVID, were exposed, or have symptoms
If you spent more than 15 minutes within six feet of someone who was positive, you’re supposed to quarantine… either until you develop COVID or are confident you don’t have it. Of course, it’s hard to estimate times and distances in the course of everyday life, and Omicron is much more infectious than previous variants.
So unless your interaction was brief, outdoors, and masked, it’s probably better to treat it as an exposure. (Though it should be recognized that quarantine can put different burdens on different people—if in doubt, follow your local health department guidelines.) Here’s how the CDC now recommends you quarantine.
You’ve been boosted, received a dose…
Resources
I Think I Might Have Covid-19. Should I Isolate or Quarantine?
A guide to when and how long to stay home if you are exposed to Omicron.
Omicron is exploding. Here’s what to do if you’ve been exposed
If you find out you’ve been exposed to someone who’s tested positive for Covid-19, a rush of questions might come to mind: Do I have to quarantine? What if I can’t find a good mask or a test? Even if I test negative, can I be certain that I’m not contagious?
CDC Updates and Shortens Recommended Isolation and Quarantine Period for General Population
Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others.
Here are the C.D.C. guidelines for students exposed to Covid
The federal government released new recommendations last month for unvaccinated students exposed to the coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said those students could remain in school, as long as they are tested for the virus twice in the week after exposure and both tests come back negative.
If you've been exposed to the coronavirus
If you've been exposed, are sick, or are caring for someone with COVID-19...
Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2
In general, asymptomatic HCP who have had a higher-risk exposure do not require work restriction if they have received all COVID-19 vaccine doses, including booster dose, as recommended by CDC and do not develop symptoms or test positive for SARS-CoV-2. The duration of protection offered by booster doses of vaccine and their effect on emerging variants are not clear; additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Confused About What to Do After a COVID Test or Exposure? Start Here
An updated guide to testing, quarantining, isolating and returning to work or school, depending on whether you’ve gotten vaccinated fully, partly or not at all, and your own history with COVID.
Coronavirus FAQ: Remind me, what's the difference between isolation and quarantine?
If you can't quarantine because, say, your family's income depends on your going to work or you have roommates in a small apartment, "it's really important that you wear a mask at all times around others for 10 days after your exposure and get a test at day 5," says Walensky. "And if you develop symptoms of COVID-19 during your quarantine period or your 10 days after exposure, you should get a test and isolate until your test results return. Then isolate if you get a positive result." But there are criticisms of this new guidance.
When to End Self-Isolation or Quarantine
Self-isolation and quarantine help protect the community by preventing exposure to people who have or may have COVID-19.
What to do if you test positive for COVID, were exposed, or have symptoms
To top it all off, the guidelines themselves are still complicated. We’ll start by laying them out. Then, we’ll explain their limitations, and how you might think about them in your own life.
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