A Close Contact who tests NEGATIVE for COVID-19

If you have been identified as a close contact or someone in your life has tested positive, it is very important that you take the following steps to stop the spread of COVID-19.

·      Close contacts of people with COVID-19 who are fully vaccinated, asymptomatic and who do not live with the positive case are not required to self-isolate. Instead, they are being advised to self-monitor for symptoms and not to visit any high-risk settings or vulnerable individuals for 10 days.

If you are identified as a close contact and are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, or you live in the same household as someone with COVID or you work/attend/live in a high risk setting and have had close contact with a case in that setting:

·      Stay home and self-isolate for 10 days after your last contact with the person who tested positive

for COVID-19. Even if your test result is negative, you must continue to quarantine for the full 10

days. Only leave the house to get tested. 

• Do not take public transit or use ridesharing when you go for testing because you are possibly infectious.

• You need to wear a mask that covers your nose, mouth, and chin.

• If someone else is driving, you need to sit in the back seat by yourself on the passenger side with car windows down to increase airflow and to lower the driver’s exposure risk.

• Get tested, to determine if you might be infected. Even if you do not have any COVID-19 symptoms, you should be tested again on day 7 of your quarantine period.

·      While quarantining, monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19.

• If you do not have any COVID-19 symptoms, you should be tested on day 7 of your quarantine period. A negative test is required to exit isolation, however even with a negative test you must isolate for 10 days.

• Get tested immediately if you develop symptoms of COVID-19, even if you have been tested previously.  An early negative result may become positive later.

• If you do not get tested, you must stay home and self-isolate for 20 days after your last contact with that person.

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If you are identified as a close contact and are fully vaccinated* and/or previously tested positive for COVID-19 (within the last 90 days) and you do not live with the individual who has COVID or work/attend the same high risk setting as the case:

·      Get tested immediately, to determine if you might be symptomatic and infected.

·      For the next 10 days, wherever possible, only go out for essential reasons and avoid unnecessary contact with vulnerable populations.

·      For the 10 days after you were exposed, monitor yourself for symptoms.

·      Even if you do not have any COVID-19 symptoms, you should be tested again on day 7 of your quarantine period.

·      Isolate and get tested immediately if you develop symptoms of COVID-19, even if you have been tested previously.  An early negative result may become positive later.

*NOTE:  An individual is considered fully vaccinated when 14 or more days have passed since their second COVID-19 vaccination. If fewer than 14 days have passed since the second dose, an individual is not considered fully vaccinated.

Monitoring symptoms

If you are experiencing severe symptoms (shortness of breath, chest pain), call 911 right away. If you had COVID-19 symptoms and they are worsening but not severe, contact your health care provider or Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000 for further guidance.