How and When to Quarantine or Isolate

If you are exposed to COVID-19, you need to quarantine.

If you are identified as a close contact, it means you’ve been exposed to the virus because you spent time around someone who has COVID-19. In general, a close contact means being less than six feet from someone for 15 minutes or more throughout a 24-hour period. However, even shorter periods of time or longer distances can result in spread of the virus. COVID-19 can take up to 14 days to make you sick, and some people with COVID-19 never feel sick, so you need to stay home and away from others so you don't spread the virus without knowing it. This is called quarantine.

Who needs to quarantine?
Anyone who has been in close contact with another person with COVID-19.
- Close contact typically means being less than six feet from another person for 15 minutes or more throughout a 24-hour period.
Anyone who lives with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, with or without symptoms.

Anyone who lives with someone who has been exposed to COVID-19 and develops symptoms.
Who does NOT need to quarantine?
If you have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days and have close contact with someone with COVID-19, you do not need to quarantine if ALL of the following are true:
- Your illness was confirmed with a positive PCR lab test result in the past 90 days; and,
- You have fully recovered; and,
- You do no currently have symptoms of COVID-19.
If you live with someone who is quarantined because of an exposure to COVID-19, you do not need to quarantine yourself unless they test positive or develop symptoms. If that happens, they will need to isolate (see next section), and you will need to quarantine.
If someone has completed COVID-19 vaccination (two doses in a two-dose series or one dose in a one-dose series) and is exposed, they do not need to quarantine if ALL of the following are true:
- The COVID-19 exposure was at least 14 days after their vaccination series was fully completed.
- They do not currently have any symptoms of COVID-19.
People who live or work in a health care or long-term care facility, have been vaccinated, and have a COVID-19 exposure should refer to guidelines for their situation.
- Health care facilities COVID-19 Recommendations for Health Care Workers (PDF)
- For other setting-specific updates to quarantine recommendations based on vaccination status, please check the MDH Coronavirus Disease website
Even after a person has recovered from COVID-19 or is fully vaccinated, they should still continue to stay distanced, wear a mask that fits well, wash their hands often, and follow other precautions. For more information, see CDC: When to Quarantine
How long to quarantine if....
…You have been notified of close contact with a person with COVID-19 and you have no symptoms:
The safest option is to stay home for 14 days, counting from the last day you were in contact with the person who has COVID-19. In certain situations, you can end your quarantine early. For more about your quarantine options if you have no symptoms, visit the Close Contacts and Tracing page at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

If you test positive for COVID-19, or if you have symptoms, you need to isolate.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should stay home and away from others. Even if you have no symptoms, a positive COVID-19 test means you are infected with the virus and should separate yourself from other people. In addition to staying home, you will also need to keep away from other members of your household as much as possible. This is called isolation. Visit the If You Are Sick page for helpful tips on caring for yourself and others during isolation.

Who needs to isolate?
How long to isolate if....
…You tested positive for COVID-19, and you have no symptoms.

You will need to stay home and away from all others, including those you live with (isolate), for 10 full days after you were tested.

…You think or know you have COVID-19 and you have symptoms:

You will need to stay home and away from all others, including those you live with (isolate), until ALL of the following are true:

It has been 10 full days since your symptoms first appeared; and,

You are fever-free for 24 hours without taking any fever-reducing medications; and,

Your symptoms are improving.

…You have been severely ill with COVID-19 or have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised):

You may need to isolate for longer than 10 days, because you could spread the virus for a longer period of time. Isolation may need to last up to 20 days after symptoms first appeared.

You may need to be tested for COVID-19 before you can be around others. Talk to your health care provider for more guidance.

To learn more, visit the CDC’s page on People with Certain Medical Conditions.