In a health care setting, isolation is one of several measures that can be taken in infection control: preventing the spread of infectious diseases from patients to other patients, health care workers and visitors, or from outsiders to specific patients.

What is the difference between quarantine and quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Quarantine helps slow the spread of COVID-19
Quarantine means staying home.
People near people with COVID-19 must isolate.
If you are near someone with COVID-19, quarantine for 14 days.
Take your temperature twice a day.
Stay away from other people.
Stay away from people with other health problems.

Quarantine helps slow the spread of COVID-19.
Isolation means staying away from others.
People with COVID-19 must stay in isolation.
People with COVID-19 must stay away from others.
People with COVID-19 must stay away from people in their home.

What is quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Quarantine is used to separate people who are infected with COVID-19 from those who are not. People who are quarantined should stay at home until they can safely spend time with others.

At home, anyone who is sick or infected should separate from others, stay in a specific « ward » or area, and use a separate bathroom (if available).

How long do I need to self-isolate after contracting COVID-19?

You can be with other people when:

● 10 days after symptoms first appeared and
● No fever for 24 hours without the use of antipyretics and
● Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving*

*Loss of taste and smell after recovery may persist for weeks or months without delaying the end of quarantine​

What is self-isolation?

Self-isolation is a way to slow the spread of the virus by staying home and away from others.

Why should I isolate myself? How did it start?

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After being in close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days, do I still need to self-isolate prior to travel even if I test negative?

If you test negative for COVID-19, you should still complete the 14-day quarantine period before traveling.

Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic?

Touching, hugging, kissing, and sex are more likely to be safe if you are both healthy and feeling well, are practicing social distancing, and have no known exposure to anyone with COVID-19.

How long can you remain infectious after testing positive for COVID-19?

If someone is asymptomatic or their symptoms disappear, it is possible to remain infectious for at least 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19. People hospitalized with serious illness and people with weakened immune systems can be contagious for 20 days or more.

How soon can I be with other people after getting COVID-19?

You can be with other people when:

10 days after symptoms first appeared, and
No fever for 24 hours without the use of antipyretics,
Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving*
*Loss of taste and smell after recovery may persist for weeks or months without delaying the end of quarantine​

When can I be with other people after having mild or moderate COVID-19?

You can be with other people when:
• 10 days after symptoms first appeared, and.
• No fever for 24 hours and no fever reducers.
• Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving*

What do I need to know to keep myself and others safe when going to the grocery store during the COVID-19 pandemic?

There are steps you can take to protect yourself, grocery store staff, and other shoppers, such as wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and using wipes on cart or basket handles.

How long can COVID-19 survive on clothes?

Research shows that COVID-19 doesn’t survive long on clothing compared to hard surfaces, and exposing the virus to heat may shorten its lifespan. A study published in The Verge found that at room temperature, COVID-19 was detected on fabrics for up to two days, compared to seven days on plastics and metals.

How can you best isolate yourself at home if you or someone you live with has COVID-19?

If possible, have the patient use a separate bedroom and bathroom. If possible, keep sick people in their « wards » or areas away from others. Try to stay at least 6 feet away from the sick person.

When are those with coronavirus disease most contagious?

Researchers estimate that people infected with the coronavirus can spread it to others 2 to 3 days before symptoms start, and are most contagious 1 to 2 days before they feel sick.

How long will it take to recover from COVID-19?

Fortunately, people with mild to moderate symptoms usually recover within days or weeks.

What is the incubation period for COVID-19?

According to the available literature, the incubation period (time from exposure to onset of symptoms) for SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses (eg, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV) is 2-14 days.

Can children still go to school if a parent tests positive for COVID-19?

If you or anyone in your household tests positive, your child should follow the school’s isolation guidance. If your child also tests positive, they should not go to school even if they are not showing symptoms. They should follow the school’s quarantine guidance.

Can a recovered person who tests persistently positive for COVID-19 infect others?

In some cases, people who have consistently or repeatedly tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA have improved signs and symptoms of COVID-19. When virus isolation in tissue culture was attempted in these individuals in Korea and the United States, no live virus has been isolated. To date, there is no evidence that clinically recovered individuals with persistent or repeated detection of viral RNA have transmitted SARS-CoV-2 to others.

Despite these observations, it is impossible to conclude that all individuals with persistent or repeated detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA are no longer infectious. There is no conclusive evidence that antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 infection are protective. If these antibodies are protective, it is unclear what antibody levels are needed to prevent reinfection.

What is the safest sex practice during the COVID-19 pandemic?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the safest type of sexual activity is masturbation. Make sure to wash your hands and any used sex toys before and after masturbation.

How safe is an intimate relationship with a partner during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Touching, hugging, kissing, and sex are more likely to be safe if you are both healthy and feeling well, are practicing social distancing, and have no known exposure to anyone with COVID-19. Likewise, sharing a bed with a healthy partner is not a problem.

Note, however, that the CDC reports that some people may be infected with the virus but not yet develop symptoms during the early stages of the incubation period (pre-symptomatic). In addition, some people never develop obvious symptoms of COVID-19 (asymptomatic). In either case, the virus has the potential to spread through physical contact and intimacy.

Is it possible to develop immunity to COVID-19 after recovery?

More than 95 percent of people who have recovered from COVID-19 have immune systems that have a lasting memory of the virus for up to 8 months after infection.

Do I need to quarantine after testing negative for the new coronavirus?

You should stay home for 14 days after your last contact with someone with COVID-19.

What are the guidelines for people who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19?

Anyone who has been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 should stay home for 14 days after the last contact with that person.

What should I do if my child is identified as a close contact and is not fully vaccinated against COVID-19?

• You should follow the isolation guidance provided by the school. CDC recommends 14-day quarantine for unvaccinated close contacts before resuming normal activities, including in-person attendance and school activities. This is because your child may get COVID-19 but may not get it for 14 days. In fact, some data suggest that a person may be spreading COVID-19 before they develop symptoms or even have no symptoms.

• If your child develops symptoms at any time during isolation, they will need to be tested and isolated immediately. If this happens, be sure to notify your school and contact your healthcare provider.

How long does someone typically need to be on a ventilator due to COVID-19?

Some people may need to be on a ventilator for a few hours, while others may need one, two or three weeks. If a person needs to be on a ventilator for an extended period of time, a tracheostomy may be required. During this procedure, the surgeon makes a hole in the front of the neck and inserts a tube into the windpipe.