Quarantine & Isolation Instructions

General Public

CDPH no longer recommends quarantine for individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 and have no symptoms. This updates the previous recommendation for a minimum five-day quarantine after exposure, regardless of symptoms.

CDPH Guidance for Local Health Jurisdictions on Isolation and Quarantine of the General Public. Please note that California Residents need to follow the CDPH issued additional guidance from that of the updated CDC isolation and quarantine recommendations

Healthcare Personnel

Due to the critical staffing shortages currently being experienced across the health care continuum because of the rise in the Omicron variant, effective January 8, 2022 through February 1, 2022, CDPH is temporarily adjusting the return-to-work criteria.

Workplace Settings: Need to follow Cal/OSHA requirements pertaining to this new Isolation and Quarantine Guidance from CDPH

In the workplace, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) or in some workplaces the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard (PDF), and should consult those regulations for additional applicable requirements.

Schools

For quarantine considerations in K-12 school settings, see CDPH K-12 Schools Guidance and CDPH K-12 testing strategies.

Isolation and Quarantine Recommendations for the General Public (not applicable to healthcare personnel or Schools) - April 6, 2022

Table 1: Persons Who Should Isolate

Persons Who Test Positive for COVID-19Recommended Actions
Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection or lack of symptoms.
  • Stay home for at least 5 days after start of symptoms (or after date of first positive test if no symptoms).
  • Isolation can end after day 5 if symptoms are not present or are resolving and a diagnostic specimen* collected on Day 5 or later tests negative.
  • If unable to test, choosing not to test, or testing positive on Day 5 (or later), isolation can end after Day 10 if fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
  • If fever is present, isolation should be continued until 24 hours after fever resolves.
  • If symptoms, other than fever, are not resolving, continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until after Day 10.
  • Per CDPH masking guidance, infected persons should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings (see masking section below for additional information).

 

*Antigen test preferred.

 

Table 2: Close Contacts - General Public
(No Quarantine)

Asymptomatic Persons Who are Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (No Quarantine)
Recommended Actions

Everyone, regardless of vaccination status.

Persons infected within the prior 90 days do not need to be tested, quarantined, or excluded from work unless symptoms develop.

  • Test within 3-5 days after last exposure.
  • Per CDPH masking guidance, close contacts should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings and when near those at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease (see masking section below for additional information).
  • Strongly encouraged to get vaccinated or boosted.
  • If symptoms develop, test and stay home (see earlier section on symptomatic persons), AND
  • If test result is positive, follow isolation recommendations above (Table 1).

In some workplaces, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard and should consult those regulations for additional applicable requirements

High Risk Exposures and Settings:

High-Risk Exposures:

Certain exposures may be deemed higher risk for transmission, such as with an intimate partner, in a household with longer periods of exposure, or while performing unmasked activities with increased exertion and/or voice projection or during prolonged close face-face contact (e,g., during contact sports like wrestling, during indoor group singing, during crowded events where cheering occurs like games, concerts or rallies, particularly if indoors). In such cases, exposed persons should be extra vigilant in undertaking recommended mitigation measures.

Similarly, if the close contact is more likely to become infected due to being unvaccinated, immunocompromised, or if they are more likely to transmit the virus to those who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19, they should also take greater care in following recommendations to limit spreading the virus to others during the 10 days following their exposure. These close contacts should get tested, and may consider quarantining or self-limiting their exposure to others, and are strongly recommended to follow the testing and mitigation measures outlined in this guidance.

High-Risk Settings**:

A high-risk setting is one in which transmission risk is high (e.g., setting with a large number of persons who may not receive the full protection from vaccination due to co-existing medical conditions), and populations served are at risk of more serious COVID-19 disease consequences including hospitalization, severe illness, and death. As such, CDPH is recommending the following work exclusions for staff working in these settings to protect the populations served, and maintaining quarantine recommendations for patients, residents and clients served in these settings, consistent with CDC recommendations.

Table 3: Close Contacts - Specified High-Risk Settings**
(Work exclusion and quarantine)

Persons Who are Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (Work exclusion and quarantine)Recommended Actions
  • Unvaccinated; OR
  • Incompletely vaccinated; OR
  • Not infected with SARS-CoV-2 within the prior 90 days.

Recommendations for staff:

  • Exclude from work for at least 5 days, after last exposure.
  • Work exclusion can end after Day 5 if symptoms are not present and a diagnostic specimen collected on Day 5 or later tests negative.
  • If unable to test or choosing not to test, and symptoms are not present, work exclusion can end after day 10.
  • Comply with CDPH masking guidance (i.e., universal masking and, in some cases, where surgical masks or higher filtration respirators may be required).
  • Strongly encouraged to get vaccinated or boosted.
  • If symptoms develop, stay home and test as soon as possible; AND
  • If test result is positive, follow isolation recommendations above (Table 1).

Recommendations for residents:

  • Quarantine for at least 5 days after last exposure.
  • Quarantine can end after Day 5 if symptoms are not present and a diagnostic specimen collected on Day 5 or later tests negative.
  • If unable to test or choosing not to test, and symptoms are not present, quarantine can end after day 10.
  • Comply with CDPH masking guidance (i.e., universal masking and, in some cases, where surgical masks or higher filtration respirators may be required).
  • Strongly encouraged to get vaccinated or boosted.
  • If symptoms develop, stay home and test as soon as possible; AND
  • If test result is positive, follow isolation recommendations above (Table 1).