Isolation & Quarantine | COVID-19 | Alameda County Public Health

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Health Officer Orders

Isolation and Quarantine Orders

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Isolation/Quarantine

Guidance Documents

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Isolation keeps someone who is sick or tested positive for COVID-19 without symptoms away from others, even in their own home.

Home Isolation Guidance

Persons Who Test Positive for COVID-19 (Isolation)

Recommended Action

If you have tested positive for COVID, you will need to isolate regardless of vaccination status or lack of symptoms

Stay home for at least 5 days.
Isolation can end after Day 5 if symptoms are not present or are resolving and a diagnostic test (antigen preferred) is negative.
If unable to test or choose not to test, it is best to isolate through Day 10.
If fever is present, isolation should continue until fever resolves.
If other symptoms are not resolving, continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until after Day 10.
Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings (see masking guiidance below for additional information).

Note:
The guidelines above reflect the most recent recommendations by CDC and CDPH (California Department of Public Health). They are available to you as an option, though risk of transmission may exist past 5 days. Isolating away from others for 10 days continues to be the safest option.

Masking Guidance:
Wearing a well-fitting mask is essential to protecting others through 10 days after your infection starts. For information on how to use masks most effectively, please refer to Get the Most out of Masking.

Quarantine keeps a person who was in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 away from others.

Quarantine Guidance

Quarantine	Unvaccinated; OR Vaccinated and booster-eligible** but have not yet received their booster dose	Stay home for at least 5 days, after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. Quarantine can end after Day 5 if remain asymptomatic and test negative on Day 5 or later. If unable to test or choose not to test, it is best to quarantine through day 10. Mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings. If you have symptoms, stay home and test, if possible. If you cannot test or your test is positive, isolate for 10 days. If test is positive, follow isolation recommendations.
NO Quarantine	Boosted; OR Vaccinated, but not yet booster-eligible	Test on Day 5. Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days, especially in indoor settings (see masking guidance below for additional information). If you have symptoms, stay home and test, if possible. If you cannot test or your test is positive, isolate for 10 days. If test is positive, follow isolation recommendations.

**Workplace Setting (not applicable to healthcare personnel): People who are vaccinated and booster-eligible, but not yet boosted, can return to work if asymptomatic and:

A negative diagnostic test is obtained within 3-5 days after last exposure to someone with COVID-19.

Please see booster-eligible definitions.

Note:
The guidelines above reflect the most recent recommendations by CDC and CDPH (California Department of Public Health). They are available to you as an option, though risk of transmission may exist past 5 days. Isolating away from others for 10 days continues to be the safest option.

Masking Guidance:
Wearing a well-fitting mask is essential to protecting others through 10 days after your infection starts. For information on how to use masks most effectively, please refer to Get the Most out of Masking.

How long should an unvaccinated K-12 student quarantine?

An unvaccinated student in a school setting may receive permission from the student’s school/district to follow any of the quarantine options in the COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California (2021-22 School Year) document, set forth by the California Department of Public Health.

Please follow-up with your school to confirm your school’s quarantine guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Comprehensive Guidance
Additional Resources

Resources

Health Officer Order of Isolation

Blanket Isolation Order (Order No. 20-05g – In effect 1/10/2022): English
Guidance for Emergency Medical Services personnel was updated in local isolation and quarantine orders (item D) to align with state guidance for healthcare providers in the current version of AFL 21-08

Health Officer Order of Quarantine

Blanket Quarantine Order (Order No. 20-6n - In effect 01/10/22): English
Guidance for Emergency Medical Services personnel was updated in local isolation and quarantine orders (item D) to align with state guidance for healthcare providers in the current version of AFL 21-08

Home Isolation and Quarantine Guidance Packets for People with COVID-19 and their Household or Close Contacts

Have you or someone you know tested positive for COVID-19? Please download and read instructions for home isolation and quarantine (updated 2022.01.14). You may be contacted by a member of the contact tracing team.
English | Arabic | Burmese | Traditional Chinese | Farsi | Hindi | Khmer | Korean | Mongolian | Punjabi | Spanish | Tagalog | Tigrinya | Vietnamese

FAQ about Isolation and Quarantine, including About Travel

When can I be around others after having COVID-19?

Employees and students who are not ill do not need a doctor’s note to return to work or school after completing their isolation or quarantine period. 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
Open Letter to Employers Regarding Clearance Testing: updates coming soon