Reminder, what to do if you test Positive for COVID-19

Basic guidelines

Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19. 

You should also isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results. 

If your results are positive, follow the full isolation recommendations below. If your results are negative, you can end your isolation.

You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.

Regardless of when you end isolation, avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 until at least day 11. Remember to wear a high-quality mask when indoors around others at home and in public and not go places where you are unable to wear a mask until you are able to discontinue masking (see below), including public transportation and travel settings.

What to do during isolation

==Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.
==Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.
==Do not travel.
==Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
==Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
==Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
==Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
==Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
==Learn more about what to do if you have COVID-19.

How to count the days

When you have COVID-19, isolation is counted in days, as follows:

===If you had no symptoms
Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result)
Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested
If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset

===If you had symptoms (click to read symptoms)
Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started

After you have ended your isolation

After you have ended isolation, when you are feeling better (no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms improving):

Wear your mask through day 10.
OR
If you have access to antigen tests, you should consider using them. With two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart, you may remove your mask sooner than day 10.

After you have ended isolation, if your COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, restart your isolation at day 0. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about your symptoms or when to end isolation.

Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.

More information on isolation can be found here: CDC

More information on treatments and medication, click here: CDC