Health Officer Orders
COVID-19 Testing
Contact Tracing
Stay home until after
If you live with others, stay in a specific "sick room" or area and away from other people or animals, including pets. Use a separate bathroom, if available.
- At least 10 days have passed since symptom started; AND
- At least 24 hours have passed since you have stopped having a fever without using medications; AND
- Other symptoms have improved
If you live with others, stay in a specific "sick room" or area and away from other people or animals, including pets. Use a separate bathroom, if available.
Stay home until after
- 10 days have passed since your positive test.
- If during the 10 days you develop symptoms, use the instructions above to know when to end your isolation.
When Can I Leave Isolation? PDF: English | Arabic | Chinese (Simplified) | Chinese (Traditional) | Farsi | Khmer | Korean | Spanish | Tagalog | Tigrinya | VietnameseI think or know I have COVID-19, and I have symptoms. When can I leave isolation?
You can be around others after:
I tested positive for COVID-19, but I've never had any symptoms. When can I leave isolation?
You can be around others after:
- 10 days since your symptoms first appeared AND
- 24 hours with no fever AND
- Your COVID-19 symptoms have improved.
I tested positive for COVID-19, but I've never had any symptoms. When can I leave isolation?
- Stay at home and stay away from others until 10 days have passed since your positive test.
- On day 11 you can leave isolation.
If I do not have any symptoms, do I need to complete isolation?
Yes! Some people who test positive for COVID-19 never develop any symptoms, but it is still possible to spread the virus to others. Stay at home and stay away from others until 10 days have passed since your positive test.
I’m fully vaccinated, do I need to complete isolation?
Yes! Vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing COVID-19. There will be a small percentage of fully vaccinated people who either develop symptoms due to COVID-19 or test positive but never have symptoms.
Please remember:- You do not need a negative test to leave isolation or return to work.
- A small number of people should isolate for 20 days when told to do so by their doctor.
- Stay home for 10 days after your last contact.
- Check your temperature twice a day and watch for symptoms of COVID-19.
- If possible, stay away from people who are at high-risk for getting sick from COVID-19 for 14 days after your last contact.
How long should I stay in quarantine? (ACPHD, 6/11/21) English | Translations coming soon
Guidance for Quarantining if You Are Unable to Avoid a COVID-Positive Person in your Household (ACPHD, 2/4/21)
Interim Quarantine Guidance for Vaccinated Health Care Personnel (ACPHD 2/22/21)
Guidance for Quarantining if You Are Unable to Avoid a COVID-Positive Person in your Household (ACPHD, 2/4/21)
Interim Quarantine Guidance for Vaccinated Health Care Personnel (ACPHD 2/22/21)
Have you had close contact with someone with COVID-19? (ACPHD, 10/12/20): English | Arabic | Chinese (Simplified) | Chinese (Traditional) | Khmer | Korean | Spanish | Tagalog | Tigrinya | Vietnamese
Guidance for Quarantining if You are Unable to Avoid a COVID-Positive Person in Your Household (ACPHD): English | Arabic | Spanish | Chinese (Simplified) | Chinese (Traditional) | Khmer | Korean | Tagalog | Vietnamese
How to create a quarantine space while living in tight quarters (ACPHD)
How long should I stay in quarantine? (ACPHD, 6/11/21) English | Translations coming soon
What makes someone a close contact of a person with COVID-19 (ACPHD, 10/20/20)
Guidance for Quarantining if You are Unable to Avoid a COVID-Positive Person in Your Household (ACPHD): English | Arabic | Spanish | Chinese (Simplified) | Chinese (Traditional) | Khmer | Korean | Tagalog | Vietnamese
How to create a quarantine space while living in tight quarters (ACPHD)
How long should I stay in quarantine? (ACPHD, 6/11/21) English | Translations coming soon
What makes someone a close contact of a person with COVID-19 (ACPHD, 10/20/20)
Blanket Isolation Order (Order No. 20-05 - In effect 4/3/20): English | Spanish | Arabic | Chinese (Simplified) | Chinese (Traditional) | Korean | Tagalog | Vietnamese
Blanket Quarantine Order (Order No. 20-6i - In effect 5/5/21) PDF: English | Arabic | Chinese (Simplified) | Chinese (Traditional) | Farsi | Khmer | Korean | Spanish | Vietnamese
- Have you or someone you know tested positive for COVID-19? Please download and read instructions for home isolation and quarantine. You will be contacted by a member of the contact tracing team.
English | Arabic | Chinese (Simplified) | Chinese (Traditional) | Farsi | Hindi | Khmer | Korean | Punjabi | Spanish | Tagalog | Tigrinya | Vietnamese
- Interim Quarantine Guidance for Vaccinated Health Care Personnel (ACPHD 2/22/21)
- Isolation (CDC)
- Quarantine(CDC)
- Quarantine vs. Isolation (CDC)
- CDPH Travel Advisory (4/2/21)
Employees and students who are not ill do not need a doctor’s note to return to work or school after staying home for 14 days. We are receiving communications that this is happening, which is impacting the medical system and preventing doctors from seeing patients who are ill.
- When You Can be Around Others After You Had or Likely Had COVID-19 (CDC)
English | Spanish | Chinese | Korean | Vietnamese - A Negative COVID-19 Test Result is NOT Required to Return to Work (Letter to Employers Regarding Clearance Testing) English | Arabic | Chinese (Simplified) | Chinese (Traditional) | Khmer | Korean | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese (ACPHD, 8/12/2020)
Answers to questions about infecting others, reinfection, vaccination, and giving blood plasma for people who have recovered from COVID-19 (ACPHD, 2/17/21): English | Spanish | Arabic | Chinese (Simplified) | Chinese (Traditional) | Khmer | Korean | Tagalog | Vietnamese