If someone in my household has to quarantine, should I quarantine as well?

If someone in your household is told to quarantine because they’ve been exposed to COVID-19, you may have to quarantine as well. This is especially true if you’ve also been in close contact with that person. It’s possible for you to have the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

Anyone who may have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 should quarantine. Close contact includes:

• Being within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period
• Providing care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
• Direct physical contact with someone who has COVID-19 (hugged or kissed them)
• Sharing eating or drinking utensils with someone who has COVID-19
• Being exposed to respiratory droplets from someone who has COVID-19 (being sneezed or coughed on)

Those who have been possibly exposed to COVID-19 should quarantine. This will depend on if you are vaccinated and when you were vaccinated.

• If you have received a booster dose or completed the 2 dose series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in the past 6 months or received the J&J vaccine in the past 2 months, you should:
  • Wear a mask around other people for 10 days
  • Test on day 5, if possible
  • If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home

• If you have completed the 2 dose series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago, or received the J&J vaccine over 2 months ago, and have not received a booster dose or have never been vaccinated you should:
  • Stay home for 5 days, After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days
  • If you can’t quarantine you must wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days
  • Test on day 5 if possible
  • If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home

Refer to the CDC website for more information.