If You Are a Close Contact to Someone With COVID-19

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You are considered a close contact if you have been 6 feet or less from a person with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection for a total of 15 minutes over a 24-hour period. For example, having three separate 5-minute exposures to someone over the course of a single day is considered a close contact. 

Are You Susceptible to COVID-19?

Persons are considered susceptible to COVID-19 disease if they are not fully vaccinated or if they do not have evidence of recent COVID-19 infection. The following persons are considered susceptible:

  • People who received two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna over 5 months ago and have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible. 

  • People who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine over 2 months ago and have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible.

  • People who are not vaccinated AND do not have evidence of a COVID-19 infection in the last 90 days.
  1. If You ARE Susceptible
  2. If You Are NOT Susceptible
  3. Quarantine & Isolation Calculator

If You Had Close Contact AND You Are Considered Susceptible

If you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 and you are susceptible -- meaning you are not immune -- you should quarantine and stay away from others. You can infect others with COVID-19 even before you start to show symptoms and even if you never show symptoms. 

How Long do You Need to Quarantine and What Should You do?

  • Stay home and quarantine for at least 5 full days after your last close contact. The day of your last contact is Day 0 and the next day is Day 1. Wear a well-fitted mask that covers your mouth and nose if you must be around others in your home. 

  • Even if you don’t develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.

  • After at least 5 full days of quarantine at home, you may leave your home. Wear a well-fitted mask that covers your mouth and nose when around others for an additional 5 days. If you cannot mask, continue quarantine at home for an additional 5 days. 

  • Watch for symptoms for 10 days after you last had close contact. If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested. 

  • Wear a well-fitted mask that covers your mouth and nose for 10 full days after you last had close contact any time you are around others inside your home or in public. 

  • For 10 full days after you last had close contact:
    • Avoid any place where you are unable to wear a mask
    • Avoid travel
    • Avoid being around people who are at high risk of developing severe disease 
  • Use the CDC's Quarantine and Isolation Calculator linked on this page to help you determine your recommended quarantine period for non-household close contacts.

  • A close household contact (someone in your household has COVID-19) should quarantine during the entirety of the person’s at home isolation period, which is a minimum of 5 days. Then, the household contact will continue their own period of quarantine for an additional 5 days, followed by 5 days of masking with a well-fitting mask when indoors and outdoors when around others. If unable to wear a mask, then the period of quarantine will be an additional 10 days. Learn more.