You’ve had a positive test or close contact with COVID-19

If you have COVID-19, isolate. If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19, consider masking and testing.

What to do

If you have tested positive for COVID-19

  • If you have symptoms, stay home until you feel better and have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication.
  • Mask when you are around other people indoors for 10 days.
  • You may remove your mask sooner than 10 days if you have two negative tests in a row at least one day apart.
  • Avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe COVID-19 for 10 days. This includes the elderly, those who live in congregate care facilities, and those who have immunocompromising conditions.

If you test positive and have symptoms, start medicine to prevent serious illness.

If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19

  • If you develop new COVID-19 symptoms, test and mask right away.
  • If do you not develop symptoms, consider testing within 5 days after the last exposure date and before contact with people at higher risk for severe COVID-19.
  • Mask indoors when around people at higher risk for severe COVID-19 for 10 days.

 

Learn more about isolation recommendations

Learn more from the California Department of Public Health.

Learn about recommendations for high-risk settings

Learn about recommendations for high-risk settings

 

Staff in healthcare settings should follow the recommendations in AFL 21-08.9.

Non-healthcare settings at higher risk for COVID-19 transmission and outbreaks (e.g. residential, adult, and senior care facilities, shelters, and jails) may continue to implement additional requirements that are more protective than the guidance for the general public.

Last updated February 20, 2024