If you test positive for COVID-19:
Isolate
If you test positive for Covid-19, you must isolate regardless of vaccination status.
You should:
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Stay home for 5 days.
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If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house.
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Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
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Children under age 2 and others who are unable to wear a well-fitting mask should isolate for 10 days.
If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves (no fever at least 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication).
If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19:
What should I do if I'm boosted or up to date with my vaccinations?
Wear a mask & test
What should I do if I'm not boosted/up to date with my vaccinations, or unvaccinated?
Quarantine
If you have been boosted, or completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months, or completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months:
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Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
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Test on day 5, if possible.
If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home.
*Also applies to those with a confirmed positive COVID-19 within the last 90 days (positive viral test) and recovered.
If you completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted or completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted or are unvaccinated:
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Stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
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If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days.
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Test on day 5 if possible.
If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home
*Also applies to those without a confirmed positive COVID-19 within the last 90 days.
Health Care Personnel Return to Work Guidance
When should a HCP with a positive viral test, with or without symptoms, return to work?
Conventional Strategy
Regardless of vaccination status, HCP can return to work after seven days (on Day 8) from symptom onset (or test date if asymptomatic) if fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication for 24 hours, asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving, and a negative test is obtained within 48 hours prior to returning to work. If test is positive, or testing is not done, the HCP can return after 10 days (on Day 11).
Contingency Strategy (NYS/CDC)
If up to date or fully vaccinated, HCP can return to work after five days have passed from symptom onset (or test date if asymptomatic) if they have no symptoms or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. HCP not up to date or fully vaccinated should adhere to the Conventional Strategy described above
When should a HCP with close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 return to work?
Guidelines for HCP who are asymptomatic and up to date on COVID-19 vaccines with an exposure to a person with COVID-19:
Conventional Strategy: Can continue to work; get a viral test one day after the exposure and, if negative, again five to seven days after exposure.
Contingency Strategy: Can continue to work; no testing required.
Guidelines for HCP who are asymptomatic and are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines with an exposure to a person with COVID-19:
Conventional Strategy: Exclude from work until after Day 7 (on Day 8) following exposure if a viral test performed on or after Day 5 is negative.18 If no viral test is performed, return to work after Day 10 (on Day 11).
Contingency Strategy: If facility grants permission to work, perform viral testing one day after exposure (Day 0) and, if negative, again, two, three, five, six, and seven days after exposure. If limited test supplies, prioritize testing one to two days after exposure and, if negative, five to seven days after exposure.