Ending isolation

Talk to the doctor about when to end home isolation, especially if you have a weakened immune system. The CDC recommends the following guidelines for ending home isolation after you think or know you had COVID-19.

• If you won't have a test to determine if you're still contagious, you can leave your sick room or home if at least 10 days have passed since your symptoms started, at least 24 hours have passed with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medicine and other symptoms are improving. Loss of taste and smell might last for weeks or months after recovery but shouldn't delay ending isolation.
• If you'll be tested to determine if you're still contagious, your doctor will let you know when you can be around others based on your test results. Most people don't need testing to decide when they can be around others.

The CDC also recommends that, as the sick person's caregiver, you stay home for 14 days and watch for common signs and symptoms, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath.