Quarantine / Isolation
Understanding what to do when you are exposed, have symptoms or test positive can be confusing. Below is information to help clarify the guidance. If you are in a school setting, please see our guidance for schools. If you have questions please submit them here.
I am vaccinated
If you are fully vaccinated, follow the guidance below. Fully vaccinated means two weeks after your second dose in a two-dose vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna) or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnsons Janseen).
Fully vaccinated individuals can still develop symptoms, may still test positive, and may transmit the virus to others, even others who are vaccinated. If you have any symptoms, remember to stay home and seek testing as soon as possible.
| GUIDANCE | |
| I’VE BEEN EXPOSED | If you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you do not have to quarantine if you are fully vaccinated, do not have symptoms and do not test positive. Please do the following: –Get tested 5-7 days after your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. -If you test negative, continue to monitor for symptoms until 14 days have passed since you were exposed. -If you develop any symptoms, even after testing negative, seek testing again. -Wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure. |
| I HAVE SYMPTOMS | Get tested immediately following the development of symptoms. -Stay at home while you await your test results. -If you test positive, isolate for 10 days -If you test negative, stay home until 24 hours have passed since symptoms resolve Click here for symptom list. |
| I TESTED POSITIVE | Isolate for 10 days. Click here for isolation requirements. |
I am unvaccinated or partially vaccinated
If you are NOT vaccinated or have only had one of a two-dose vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna), follow the guidance below.
| GUIDANCE | |
| I’VE BEEN EXPOSED | If you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, please do the following: –Quarantine immediately for 14 days from date of exposure. –Get tested 5-7 days after your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. -If you test negative, you may return to normal activities after day 7. -If symptoms develop after exposure, isolate for 10 days regardless if you test negative. You are considered a probable case due to the known exposure. |
| I HAVE SYMPTOMS | Get tested immediately following the development of symptoms. -If you test positive, isolate for 10 days. -If you test negative, stay home until 24 hours have passed since symptoms resolve. Click here for symptom list. |
| I TESTED POSITIVE | Isolate for 10 days. Click here for isolation requirements. |
August 10, 2021 – Pitkin County Public Health has updated its quarantine protocols as the majority of new cases in the county are identified as variants. Full quarantine guidance is available here.
Length of quarantine: 14 days
Is testing required? No
Who should use this option: People who are not yet vaccinated and have had close contact with a case infected with a COVID-19 variant virus must quarantine for 14 days.
Length of Quarantine: 7 days
Is testing required? Yes
Who should use this option: People who do not have contact with high risk individuals and have a negative test (PCR test no earlier than 5 days; antigen test no earlier than 7 days). Individuals must monitor themselves daily and have not had any symptoms of COVID-19. People may resume their usual activities beginning on day 8 after exposure. Continue to monitor daily for symptoms for the full 14 days following exposure.
Do’s and dont’s during Quarantine/Isolation
- Do not go to grocery stores or other public places (food deliveries and other supports can be found here and/or discussed with the Disease Investigation staff who calls you)
- Do not use public transportation
- Do not go to work. Working from a home-based office is permitted
- Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home
- Clean your hands often
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Cover your coughs and sneezes
Quarantine
Keeps someone who was in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 away from others
If you had close contact with a person who has COVID-19:
For 14 days after exposure, regardless of your quarantine length, you should:
- Watch for symptoms of COVID-19.
- If you have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact Public Health
- Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from others, wash your hands, avoid crowds, and take other precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19
- Avoid contact with high-risk individuals.
Isolation
Keeps someone who is sick or tested positive for COVID-19 without symptoms away from others, even in their own home
If you are symptomatic and think or know you have COVID-19 stay home until after:
If you tested positive for COVID-19 but do not have symptoms:
- Stay home until after 10 days have passed since your positive test
- If you live with others, stay in a specific “sick room” or area and away from other people or animals, including pets.
COVID-19 symptoms
COVID-19 symptoms can vary from mild to severe and usually appear 2-14 days after exposure. You may have COVID-19 if you have any of the symptoms below:
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Unusual Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Runny nose or congestion
- Sneezing (common among those vaccinated)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain (or nausea)
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Loss of taste or smell
Contact tracing
Pitkin County Public Health continues to monitor and investigate COVID-19 cases, which includes isolation of any individual with a positive COVID-19 case, case investigation, contact tracing, and quarantine of close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to slow disease transmission and reduce the risk of any unanticipated surges. Learn more about contact tracing in Pitkin County.
