Isolation
See current CDC Isolation and precautions for people with COVID-19 guidance.
Effective August 11, 2022, the CDC requires isolation after a positive test and recommends quarantine for outbreak mitigation.
If you test positive for COVID-19 (Isolate)
CDC Guidance says:
Everyone regardless of vaccination status
IF you had NO symptoms of illness:
- Stay home for 5 days
- After 5 days, you can leave your house
- Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days 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. If antigen test results are positive, continue to wear a mas and test again in 48 hours. Use a mask around others until you have two sequential negative test results.
IF you had symptoms of illness:
- Stay home for 5 days
- If you had symptoms, you may leave your house after 5 days if your symptoms are improving and you have been fever free for 24 hours (without using fever-reducing medication)
- Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days 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. If antigen test results are positive, continue to wear a mask and test again in 48 hours. Use a mask around others until you have two sequential negative test results.
If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.
It’s best to have a separate room and bathroom for someone sick with COVID-19 but sometimes that’s not possible. Here is what to do when space is limited.
If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine)
If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should begin taking precautions. This includes but isn’t limited to wearing a medical grade mask and monitor for symptoms for 10 days.
How to calculate your 5-day isolation period
If you had COVID-19 and had symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days. To calculate your 5-day isolation period, day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed. You can leave isolation after 5 full days if symptoms have improved or resolved. Pitkin County recommends those discontinuing isolation before day 10 be tested using two antigen tests, taken 48 hours apart to assess the risk of contagiousness.
Click here for detailed CDC guidance.
School Guidance
If you are in a school setting, please see our guidance for schools. If you have questions please submit them here.
