Isolation and Quarantine Guidance
for the general public
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Quarantine, Isolation, and Vaccination Calculator
Use our COVID calculator to know when you are considered fully vaccinated, when and how long you need to quarantine, reinfection timeframes and more. Note: the isolation and quarantine portion of the calculator is still programmed at 10 days, not 5.
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Isolation: When a person who is sick is asked to stay home and limit interractions with others, even those they live with. This includes anyone who tests positive and has symptoms, anyone who tests positive but has no symptoms, and those who have symptoms but have not been tested.
Quarantine: When a person who is not sick is told to stay home because they have been exposed to someone who is sick.
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The isolation and quarantine guidance on this page only applies to the general public. To see guidance for other groups, click here.
ISOLATION
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you should:
- Stay at home and isolate yourself from others for five days.
- After five days you may leave your house if you have no symptoms, but you should continue to wear a mask around others for an additional five days.
- Notify your close contacts, including those you were with 2 days (48 hours) prior to testing positive. Contacts of a contact do not need to quarantine but should monitor themselves for symptoms.
- Always follow guidance from your local health department or contact tracers.
- Fill out this form to allow our nurses to provide you with better service.
Isolation explained
Why the CDC shortened I&Q for the general public
How to talk to your close contacts
What to do if you are sick
If you are caring for someone with COVID-19
We know isolating at home can be difficult. If you need assistance with food, shelter, childcare, etc., we can help.
QUARANTINE
If you were exposed to COVID-19 and have received a booster dose or completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna within six months or completed the primary series of J&J within the last two months, you do not need to quarantine, but should:
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days
- Get a COVID-19 test on day five. Testing locations can be found at www.michigan.gov/coronavirustest or by calling 211
- Get a COVID-19 test if you develop symptoms. Testing locations can be found at michigan.gov/coronavirustest or by calling 211
- If you test positive for COVID-19 you should stay home and follow the isolation instructions at the top of this page.
- Always follow guidance from your local health department or contact tracers.
If you were exposed to COVID-19 and completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna over six months ago and are not boosted or completed the primary series of J&J over two months ago and are not boosted or have an incomplete vaccine series or are unvaccinated, you should:
- Stay home (quarantine) and away from others for five days.
- After your five-day quarantine is over, continue to wear a mask around others for an additional five days.
- If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for ten days.
- Get a COVID-19 test on day five. If you test positive, you should follow home isolation guidelines. Testing locations can be found at michigan.gov/coronavirustest or by calling 211
- Get a COVID-19 test if you develop symptoms and stay home. If you test positive, you should follow home isolation guidelines. Testing locations can be found at michigan.gov/coronavirustest or by calling 211
- Always follow guidance from your local health department or contact tracers.
- Contacts of a contact do not need to quarantine but should monitor themselves for symptoms.
- Proof of antibodies or a negative COVID-19 test result during quarantine will not reduce or end quarantine. The only people excluded from quarantine are those who have been infected with COVID-19 within the last 90 days or who have received a booster two or more weeks prior to exposure. NOTE: determination of quarantine length and release from quarantine is determine by public health, not your individual healthcare provider.
Quarantine explained
Why CDC shortened I&Q for general public
What to do if you are sick
Steps to take while waiting for COVID-19 test results
Protect yourself and your community by stopping the spread of COVID-19. Download the app and get notifications if you may have been exposed to the virus.