IDENTIFY and INFORM Your Close Contacts
Notify everyone you have been within 6 feet of for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, beginning two days before you developed symptoms or two days before you took your COVID-19 test, if you do not have symptoms, about your illness and share the guidance below.
Identify Your Close Contacts
If you have COVID-19, it is important that you alert all close contacts so that they know to watch for symptoms and take over prevention measures. A close contact is defined as anyone with whom you have been within 6 feet for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
The steps below will help you identify and talk to your close contacts.
- Document the day, date, and time your symptoms began, or the date of your positive COVID-19 test if you are asymptomatic.
- List all people who were in your household, starting 48 hours BEFORE you developed symptoms or two days before you took your COVID-19 test if you do not have any symptoms until now.
- Identify other people you have had close contact with, starting 48 hours BEFORE you developed symptoms or two days before you took your COVID-19 test if you do not have symptoms through the start of your isolation period. This includes people at work, in a car, in a home, and other places.
Inform Your Close Contacts
Call your contacts and tell them you have COVID-19. By sharing your information with others, you can slow the spread of illness.
Sample text: “Hi. I have COVID-19. I’m calling you because when we were together, you may have been exposed. The Health Department recommends you take certain steps."
Recommendations for close contacts of someone who has COVID-19.
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.
- 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.