Latest CDC COVID Isolation Guidelines for 2023 Share this page:

Latest CDC COVID Isolation Guidelines for 2023

COVID-19 began as a pandemic in 2019 and, even though we may think we know all there is to know about it, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) consistently updates its website when necessary.  This blog will discuss the most recent guidelines for those who have contracted the virus, as recommended by the CDC.

SYMPTOMS:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

ISOLATION:

If you develop any of the above signs and symptoms and suspect you may have COVID, you must isolate, even if you have not yet received your test results.

Isolation is counted in days:

• If you had no symptoms
  • Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result)
  • Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested
  • If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset
• If you had symptoms
  • Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
  • Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started

IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID

• Stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home.  You are most infectious during the first five days of your illness.
• Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.
• Do not go to places where you are not able to wear a mask.
• Do not travel.
• Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
• Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
• Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
• Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
• Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign such as difficulty breathing, seek emergency medical care immediately.

ENDING ISOLATION:

• If you had no symptoms, you may end isolation after Day 5.
• If you had symptoms but they are improving, you may end isolation after Day 5 if you are fever free without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• If your symptoms are NOT improving, continue to isolate until you are fever free without use of fever-reducing meds and your symptoms are improving.
• If you had symptoms with moderate illness (difficulty breathing or shortness of breath) continue to isolate for Ten Days.
• If you had symptoms with severe illness, isolate through Day 10 and consult your doctor before ending isolation.  You may be required to have a viral test.

The CDC recommends that you continue to wear a mask around others while indoors or in public until Day 11, regardless of when you discontinued isolation, and avoid being around others who may be immunocompromised for the same period of time.

For more in-depth and detailed information, please check out this CDC link.

Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19 | CDC