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Infected or Exposed to COVID-19?

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What to do if you are sick or were exposed to COVID-19
Guidance for travelers
Additional Information and Resources

What to do if you are sick or were exposed to COVID-19

Here are steps that you need to take if you if you have COVID-19 symptoms, tested positive for COVID-19, or were exposed to COVID-19.

Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19 or if you have symptoms and think you might COVID-19, but do not yet have test results.

If your results are negative, you can end your isolation. If your results are positive, follow recommendations below.

Symptoms	How Isolation is Calculated	When you can leave Isolation
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 have no symptoms - you may end after day 5 (on day 6). Wear a well fitted mask around others for Days 6-10. If you are unable or unwilling to wear a mask on Days 6-10, you can use the CDC’s test based strategy that includes two negative tests 48 hours apart.
If you had symptoms	Day 0 is the day of when symptoms started, regardless of when you tested positive Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started	If you have symptoms - you may end after day 5 (on day 6) if: You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) Your symptoms are improving You wear a well fitted mask around others for Days 6-10. If you are unable or unwilling to wear a mask on Days 6-10, you can use the CDC’s test based strategy that includes two negative tests 48 hours apart. If you still have fever or your other symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve. If you had moderate illness  (if you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing), or severe illness  (you were hospitalized) due to COVID-19, or you have a weakened immune system, you need to isolate through day 10. If you had severe illness  or have a weakened immune system, consult your doctor before ending isolation. Ending isolation without a viral test may not be an option for you. If you are unsure if your symptoms are moderate or severe or if you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.

Symptoms

How Isolation is Calculated

When you can leave Isolation

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 have no symptoms - you may end after day 5 (on day 6).

Wear a well fitted mask around others for Days 6-10. If you are unable or unwilling to wear a mask on Days 6-10, you can use the CDC’s test based strategy that includes two negative tests 48 hours apart.

If you had symptoms

Day 0 is the day of when symptoms started, regardless of when you tested positive

Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started

If you have symptoms - you may end after day 5 (on day 6) if:

You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
Your symptoms are improving
You wear a well fitted mask around others for Days 6-10. If you are unable or unwilling to wear a mask on Days 6-10, you can use the CDC’s test based strategy that includes two negative tests 48 hours apart.

If you still have fever or your other symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve.

If you had moderate illness  (if you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing), or severe illness  (you were hospitalized) due to COVID-19, or you have a weakened immune system, you need to isolate through day 10.

If you had severe illness  or have a weakened immune system, consult your doctor before ending isolation. Ending isolation without a viral test may not be an option for you.

If you are unsure if your symptoms are moderate or severe or if you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.

Note: This is intended for members of the general public. It does NOT apply to healthcare facilities or high-risk congregate settings.

Isolation Guidance

If you test positive for COVID-19, you should stay home for at least 5 days and wear a mask for 10 days after testing positive with COVID-19.

Stay home and isolate from others in your home for at least 5 days, even if you are vaccinated. Do not leave home, except to receive medical care.
Wear a mask around others for 10 days after your symptoms started. If you don't have symptoms, wear a mask for 10 days after the date you tested positive. Choose a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public. Visit CDC’s website to see how you might be able to stop wearing your mask sooner.
Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.
Do not travel.
Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
Do not visit people who have a weakened immune systems or who are at high risk for severe COVID-19
Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
Clean and disinfect all frequently touched or high-touch surfaces daily.
Do not share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
See this guidance about how to identify and inform your close contacts.
Learn more about what to do if you have COVID-19.

If you are at higher risk of getting very sick, contact your healthcare provider to see if you are eligible for treatment. Early treatment can prevent you from getting sicker.

Find support

Fairfax has support for those who will need to be temporarily out of work and away from others. From rental and food assistance to health care and housing, there may be resources to get you by today so you can onboard to a healthier tomorrow.
Call Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880 to get connected or the Health Department’s Community Health Worker Program for a referral at 703-246-2411.

If you were exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, regardless of your vaccination status or if you have had a previous infection, here are the steps that you should take:

Take Precautions

Watch for symptoms. If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested.

Wearing a mask for 10 days after exposure may help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 to others. You may choose to wear a mask around other people, particularly those who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. Consider wearing a mask when around others inside in your home or indoors in public through the end of day 10.

Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19.
Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.

Get Tested

If you choose to, get tested on day 6 after your last exposure.

If you test negative, continue taking precautions through day 10. See detailed guidance about when to repeat testing.
If you test positive, isolate

If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see specific testing recommendations.

Note: This is intended for members of the general public. It does NOT apply to healthcare facilities or high-risk congregate settings.

Exposure risks

Learning about how COVID-19 spreads and the factors that can increase or decrease that risk can help you make informed choices. These factors include:

Length of time: how longer were you around the infected person?
Coughing or heavy breathing: was the infected person coughing, singing, shouting, or breathing heavily?
Symptoms: Did the infected person have symptoms at the time?
Masks: Were you or the infected person or both wearing a respirator (for example, N95) or high-quality mask?
Ventilation and filtration: How well-ventilated was the space?
Distance: How close was the infected person to you?

Learn more about Understanding Exposure Risks.

Guidance for travelers

COVID-19 is still spreading within Virginia, across the United States, and in other countries.

Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before travel.

Check your destination’s COVID-19 situation before traveling. State, tribal, local, territorial, and other countries' governments may have travel restrictions and requirements in place. Prepare to be flexible during your trip as restrictions and policies may change during your travel.

Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is recommended in indoor areas of public transportation (including airplanes) and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports).

See the CDC Travel website for information about domestic and international travel.

See the VDH FAQ page for answers to travel questions.

Health Department

Health Department Alert:

Department Resources

Infected or Exposed to COVID-19?

What to do if you are sick or were exposed to COVID-19

Isolation Guidance

Find support

Take Precautions

Get Tested

Exposure risks

While Waiting for Test Results

Guidance for travelers

Additional Information and Resources

Recent Interactions

Ask Fairfax

Health Department

Health Department Alert:

Department Resources

Infected or Exposed to COVID-19?

What to do if you are sick or were exposed to COVID-19

If you have COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19

Isolation Guidance

Find support

If you were exposed to COVID-19

Take Precautions

Get Tested

Exposure risks

While Waiting for Test Results

Guidance for travelers

Additional Information and Resources

Recent Interactions

Ask Fairfax