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 because they may need to quarantine to prevent further spread of infection. 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 based on your vaccination status."
Recommendations for Quarantine Are Different Based on Your Vaccination Status:
| If You Were Exposed to Someone With COVID-19 (Quarantine) |
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If you are up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, which means you:
- Are 5 years or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses including all recommended booster doses
OR
- Received your second dose (and an additional dose if immunocompromised) of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines within the last 5 months
OR
- Received your first dose of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months
Or, if you have have had COVID-19 within the last 90 days confirmed by a positive viral test
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Day 1 to 10
See calculator below.
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If you are NOT up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, which means you:
- Are ages 5 or older and you received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines more than 5 months ago and are not boosted
OR
- Received one dose of the J&J vaccine more than 2 months ago and are not boosted
OR
- Are not vaccinated or are partially vaccinated
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Day 1 to 5
- Stay home and away from others (quarantine). Do not travel.
- Test on day 5 if possible. If you test positive for COVID-19, follow the isolation guidance above.
Day 6 to 10
- Continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others. See additional guidance below.
- If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home. If you test positive for COVID-19, follow the isolation guidance above.
- If you must travel during days 6-10, take precautions.
See calculator below.
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Additional Guidance for Everyone Who Needs to Isolate or Quarantine
- If you are unable to wear a mask when around others, you should continue to isolate/quarantine for 10 days. Avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, and nursing homes and other high-risk settings, until after at least 10 days.
- Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask, such as restaurants and some gyms, and avoid eating around others at home and at work until a full 10 days after your first day of symptoms.
- See CDC Guidance for questions related to travel if you are isolating or quarantining.
Note: This guidance does not apply for healthcare professionals, for patients and visitors to healthcare settings, residents of long-term care facilities or other congregate settings or people who are severely ill with COVID-19 or have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised). Individuals in these categories should CDC Guidance for further information.
Everyone should continue to practice good respiratory and hand hygiene:
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with the inside of your elbow or a tissue.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces every day.
Quarantine & Isolation Calculator
The Virginia Department of Health has recently updated their quarantine recommendations. See the calculator for guidance.
