Health Department

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our administration office at 10777 Main Street in Fairfax is open during regular business hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Clinic services are not offered at this location.
703-246-2411 TTY 711
10777 Main Street
Fairfax, VA 22030
Gloria Addo-Ayensu, M.D., M.P.H.
Director of Health

Slow the Spread of COVID-19

Red box with white text saying "Tested positive for COVID-19?" above a black box with white text saying "Guidance for residents of Fairfax County, Cities of Fairfax & Falls Church, Towns of Herndon & Vienna"

ISOLATE and Take Precautions to Prevent COVID-19 from Spreading

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 testing positive with COVID-19. 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.
  • If you test positive for COVID-19 and 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.
  • Take additional precautions:

End isolation based on how serious your COVID-19 symptoms were.

If you have no symptoms If you have 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.

  • 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

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.

Note: 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 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.

If you have questions about what you should do when you have COVID-19:

  • Call your health care provider
  • If you do not have or cannot reach your provider, call us at 703-246-2411.
  • Learn more about what to do if you have COVID-19.

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.

  1. Document the day, date, and time your symptoms began, or the date of your positive COVID-19 test if you are asymptomatic.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

For persons who are in isolation: If you are having difficulty staying home due to trouble obtaining hygiene/cleaning supplies, obtaining food/groceries, obtaining over the counter medication, or paying rent/utilities, assistance can be provided through the Health Department’s Community Health Worker Program. Contact 703-246-2411 for a referral.

You may also contact the Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning call center for basic needs assistance
at 703-222-0880, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. 


Note: If you are a healthcare provider, your recommendations may be different. Please contact your employer for guidance.

CDC Guidance for Healthcare Workers

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