Quarantine and isolation are two tactics used by public health agencies to help contain and prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. Learn more about each of them.
Quarantine
Quarantine is intended for people who are not sick, do not have symptoms of COVID-19, and are identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Quarantine is like calling a time-out, to learn more about the situation. It can be voluntary or mandated by the state or a public health agency.
How to find out if you need to quarantine
To determine if you need to quarantine or not, we recommend connecting with the contact tracing team via:
The contact tracing team will connect with you for a brief phone call to learn more about your situation to tailor information and next steps appropriately.
Who needs to quarantine?
In general, if someone has been identified as a close contact (within six feet for more than 15 cumulative minutes of a person during their infectious period):
Fully vaccinated person
Fully vaccinated people who do not have symptoms, do NOT need to quarantine at home after contact with someone who had COVID-19. Fully vaccinated people should get tested 5-7 days after the exposure. It is recommended that you wear a mask in public for 14 days after a known exposure or until you have a negative test result. Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days after known exposure. If you develop symptoms, isolate at home and test as soon as possible.
Unvaccinated person
If someone is unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, we would ask that individual to quarantine at home, and consider testing on day 5-7 after their last exposure. The length of time for the quarantine would depend on several factors and should be determined by a contact tracer. If you have not discussed your quarantine with a contact tracer, please connect with Contact Tracing at 303-735-0017 or contacttracing@colorado.edu.
Symptomatic person
If someone has symptoms, they should isolate and get a COVID-19 test immediately. Students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can schedule a COVID telehealth appointment and testing online on their MyCUHealth portal or by calling 303-492-5432. Faculty and staff should contact their primary care provider. Testing is available at community testing sites.
What to do when quarantining
Wear a mask
If you must go out wear a face mask at all times and maintain physical distance from others as much as possible.
Stay clean
Have basic supplies like cleaning and disinfecting products and hand sanitizer on hand.
Keep to yourself
Avoid sharing personal items with others.
Avoid public spaces
Do not go to public areas, such as a classroom or lab space.
Avoid public transportation
Avoid using public transportation, rideshares or taxis.
Isolation
Isolation is intended for people who are sick, beginning to show symptoms, feeling ill and think they might have COVID 19, or have tested positive for COVID-19.
Symptoms may be mild and feel like a common cold, especially early on. Early symptoms could include a combination of cough, body aches, fatigue and chest tightness. Some people may not develop a fever or a fever may not appear until several days into the illness.
Isolation can be voluntary or mandated by a public health professional.
Email contacttracing@colorado.edu
Emails and voicemails are checked regularly, including weekends.
When should you isolate?
You should begin isolation as soon as you:
Isolation is different from quarantine. A negative COVID test while you are in isolation will not reduce the isolation period. The isolation timeframe is provided to students during case investigation.
If you receive a positive test result from an at-home antigen test, please contact the Public Health Office as soon as possible.
The most important part about isolation is to follow the guidance provided by a public health official.
Where and how should you isolate?
Stay home
Stay home except to receive medical care; do not come to campus, visit with others or take public transportation.
Remain in isolation until cleared by a public health staff member.
Monitor your symptoms
Monitor your symptoms and notify a healthcare provider of any changes or worsening of symptoms.
Avoid close contact with other members of your household and pets
Avoid contact with other members of your household. Stay in a separate room from other household members and use a separate bathroom, if possible.
Wash your hands
Regularly wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer. Disinfect common surfaces daily.
Wear a face mask
If you must be around other people inside or outside of your household, wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Keep six feet of distance between yourself and others at all times.
The most important part about isolation is to follow the guidance provided by a public health official.
When to seek emergency medical care
If you or someone you know is showing any of these signs or symptoms*, seek emergency medical care immediately:
Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility and notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
*This list does not cover all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
Notify faculty members and work (if applicable)
Contact faculty members and/or your supervisor to let them know you will not be able to participate in in-person activities. Employees may direct questions regarding leave options to leave@colorado.edu. Students who have reached out to faculty and aren’t sure what to do, for example, if symptoms become more severe or are looking into additional academic options, please submit a self-referral form and a Student Support Case Manager will reach out to you directly to provide assistance and/or connect you with additional support resources.
When to leave isolation
You will receive additional isolation information from a case investigator along with a projected date when you may leave isolation. A case investigator will call to check in on your symptoms and confirm when you can leave isolation. Only a case investigator can clear someone from isolation.