When is the first day of quarantine

Isolation and quarantine are key strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19. If you test positive for COVID-19, have symptoms, or are identified as a close contact of someone who has COVID-19, you should isolate or quarantine as appropriate. 

This page outlines the difference between isolation and quarantine and explains why both are important. The guidance below is for the general public use.

For more details on isolation and quarantine, including activities you should avoid during your isolation or quarantine period, please see DOH’s guidance What to do if you test positive for COVID-19 and What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19. You can also visit CDC’s Quarantine and Isolation page.

What is isolation?

Isolation means you stay home and away from others (including household members) for the recommended period of time (see below) to avoid spreading illness. Isolation is for those who have tested positive for COVID-19, or who have symptoms of COVID-19, or who are awaiting test results.

How long does isolation last?

See DOH’s guidance What to do if you test positive for COVID-19 (PDF) for more information.

If you tested positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days* after your symptoms first appeared. You can leave isolation after 5 full days if:

• Your symptoms are improving 5 days after the start of your isolation, and
• You have not had a fever for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medication

You should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of your 5-day isolation period.

If you continue to have a fever or your other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, wait to end your isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.

If you tested positive for COVID-19 but have not had any symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days* after you tested positive for COVID-19. You can leave isolation after 5 full days if you have not developed symptoms.

You should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of your 5-day isolation period.

If you develop symptoms after testing positive, your isolation period should start over from when your symptoms began. Follow the recommendations above for ending isolation if you have symptoms.

*If you cannot wear a well-fitting mask: You should isolate at home for 10 days after your symptom onset date (or date tested for COVID-19 if asymptomatic).

Calculating Your Isolation Period

If you have symptoms, day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed. If you have not had any symptoms, day 0 is your positive viral test date (the date you were tested). Day 1 is the first full day after the specimen was collected for your positive test. Please see the Isolation and Quarantine Calculator for assistance.

What is quarantine?

Quarantine describes when someone who has been exposed to COVID-19 stays home and away from others for the recommended period of time in case they were infected and are contagious. Quarantine becomes isolation if the person later tests positive for COVID-19 or develops symptoms.

How long does quarantine last?

See DOH’s guidance What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19 (PDF) for more information.

You should quarantine at home for at least 5 days* after your last contact with the person with COVID-19. You can leave quarantine so long as you don’t develop symptoms and continue to wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home and in public through day 10.

*If you cannot wear a well-fitting mask: you should quarantine at home for 10 days after your last contact with the person with COVID-19.

Monitor your symptoms during this time, and if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, isolate and get tested.  

You do not need to quarantine if you:

• Are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines, including booster and additional doses if eligible, based on age and health status.
  • If you completed your primary series and are not yet eligible for your booster, you must have received the final dose in your primary series at least 2 weeks before exposure to the person with COVID-19 in order to not need to quarantine.
• Tested positive for COVID-19 with a viral test within the previous 90 days and recovered.

COVID-19 vaccines must be authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the FDA; or listed for emergency use or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization.

While you do not need to quarantine, you should take the following steps:

• Get tested for COVID-19 at least 5 days after your last contact with the person with COVID-19.
  • If you tested positive for COVID-19 with a viral test within the previous 90 days and recovered, use an antigen test (not a PCR test) to test at least 5 days after your last contact with the person with COVID-19.
  • If you test positive, follow the guidance in What to do if you test positive for COVID-19.
• Wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 10 days after your last close contact with the person with COVID-19; continue to wear a mask even if you test negative on day 5.
• Watch for symptoms for 10 days after your last contact with the person with COVID-19.

Additional considerations during isolation and quarantine

People doing the 5-day isolation or quarantine should avoid activities where you cannot wear a mask, and avoid being around people who are at high risk for severe disease until after day 10.

• People with Certain Medical Conditions (CDC)
• Travel (CDC)

Certain high-risk settings or groups may need to use the 10-day isolation or quarantine option. Please refer to DOH’s guidance What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19  and What to do if you test positive for COVID-19 for recommendations pertaining to these groups.

• Correctional or detention facility
• Homeless shelter or transitional housing
• Commercial maritime setting (e.g., commercial seafood vessels, cargo ships, cruise ships)
• Crowded work setting where physical distancing is not possible due to the nature of the work, such as in warehouses, factories, and food packaging and meat processing facilities
• Temporary worker housing

Other settings or groups with different isolation and quarantine recommendations:

Consult with your local health jurisdiction or health care provider to determine the best option for your individual circumstances.

What kind of support is available if I need to isolate or quarantine?

If you need support to safely stay at home, or you need a safe place to isolate or quarantine, your local public health department may be able to connect you with available services in your area. Support is also available through Care Connect Washington.

If somebody does not have a doctor or health care provider: many locations have free or low-cost testing, regardless of immigration status. See the Department of Health’s Testing FAQ or call the WA State COVID-19 Information Hotline.

If you were exposed to COVID-19, you should start taking precautions.

Isolation and Exposure Calculator

A tool to help you determine if you need to isolate or take other steps to prevent spreading COVID-19.

If you have COVID-19, you can spread the virus to others. There are precautions you can take to prevent spreading it to others: isolation, masking, and avoiding contact with people who are at high risk of getting very sick. Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19.

These recommendations do not change based on COVID-19 Community Levels. If you have COVID-19, also see additional information on treatments that may be available to you.

This information is intended for a general audience. Healthcare professionals should see Ending Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19. This CDC guidance is meant to supplement—not replace—any federal, state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations.

Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19.

You should also isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results. If your results are positive, follow the full isolation recommendations below. If your results are negative, you can end your isolation.

You can end your isolation

Follow the full isolation recommendations below

When you have COVID-19, isolation is counted in days, as follows:

• 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

• Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
• Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started

If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home.

You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.

End isolation based on how serious your COVID-19 symptoms were. Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.

If you had no symptoms

You may end isolation after day 5.

If you had symptoms and:

You may end isolation after day 5 if:

• You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).

Continue to isolate until:

• You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).
• Your symptoms are improving. 1

If you had symptoms and had:

You need to isolate through day 10.

• You need to isolate through day 10.
• 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.

Regardless of when you end isolation

Until at least day 11:

• Avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
• Remember to wear a high-quality mask when indoors around others at home and in public.
• Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask until you are able to discontinue masking (see below).
• For travel guidance, see CDC’s Travel webpage.