Ending isolation or quarantine

Isolation is used to separate people with the COVID-19 virus from those who aren't sick. Talk to the doctor about when to end home isolation if you have a weakened immune system. If you think or know you had COVID-19 and had symptoms, the CDC recommends that it's OK to be around others after:

• 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
• Other symptoms are improving — loss of taste and smell might last for weeks or months after recovery but shouldn't delay ending isolation

Most people don't need testing to decide when they can be around others.

If you are caring for someone with COVID-19 and you aren't fully vaccinated, the CDC recommends that you quarantine for 14 days after your last contact with the sick person and watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Try to stay away from people in your household. If you have symptoms, self-isolate. Other options may include ending quarantine after 10 days if you don't have symptoms and won't get tested or ending quarantine after 7 days if you get a negative test result. Continue to watch for symptoms for 14 days.

However, if you�ve been caring for someone with COVID-19, you don�t need to stay home if:

• You�ve been fully vaccinated and have no symptoms of COVID-19.
• You�ve had COVID-19 within the last three months, recovered and remain without symptoms of COVID-19.

If you're fully vaccinated, get tested 3 to 5 days after the exposure, even if you don't have symptoms. It's also recommended that you wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following the exposure or until you get a negative test result.