Quarantine Instructions
Home Quarantine Instructions for People Exposed to COVID-19
If you live in San Luis Obispo County and have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you are required to follow this Health Officer order to quarantine yourself immediately, follow the instructions below, and remain in quarantine until your quarantine order ends.
Note: Quarantine is different from isolation. Isolation is for individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. Quarantine is for individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19.
People returning from high-risk travel should quarantine for 14 days.
Definition of a Close Contact
A Close Contact is any of the following people who were exposed to someone who has COVID-19 while that person was infectious*:
- Anyone who was within 6 feet of a known case for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, even if you both wore masks.
- Anyone who had unprotected contact with a known case’s body fluids and/or secretions. For example, someone with COVID-19 coughed or sneezed on you, you shared utensils or dishes, or you cared for them without wearing a cloth face covering.
*A person with COVID-19 is contagious 2 days before their first symptoms appear until they are no longer required to be self-quarantined. A person with a positive COVID-19 test but no symptoms is contagious from 2 days before their test was taken until 10 days after their test.
Definition of a Household Contact
- A Household Contact is someone who lives with and/or cares for a COVID-19 positive individual. A Household Contact is a specific type of close contact with distinct requirements for duration of quarantine.
Step 1: Quarantine (Stay Home) |
COVID-19 is very contagious. If you have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you must self-quarantine to prevent spreading the disease to your family, friends, and community. This means you must stay home and separate yourself from others until your quarantine order ends.
While in quarantine, you must not leave your home, even if you feel well. Do not let delivery persons or visitors inside your home.
If you live with other persons:
If someone delivers something at your home, ask them to leave the delivery at your door, if possible. Pick them up after the person has left. If you need to answer the door:
Does your employer, school, or other agency require documentation or a letter showing that you have received a Health Officer Order to Quarantine? You may request documentation of your quarantine order by filling out this form. |
Step 2: Monitor your health |
*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
Severe illness from COVID-19 is defined as hospitalization, admission to the ICU, intubation or mechanical ventilation, or death. Adults of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:
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Step 3: Complete the duration of your quarantine period |
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*Higher risk individuals should quarantine for 14 days. This includes the elderly, immunocompromised, people with certain chronic medical conditions, or people who work or live in any congregate setting (e.g., residential care facility for the elderly or those with disabilities, any facility that cares for people who are severely immunocompromised, school, college dorm, or correctional facility).
Does your employer or school require documentation or a letter showing that you have completed your quarantine period? You may request documentation of your release from quarantine by filling out this form. |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What if I start to feel sick and need to see a doctor? What signs should I watch for? |
Signs that you are getting sick include fever (temperature greater than 100.4), chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea. Call ahead first. Your doctor may be able to see and treat minor illness over the phone. If you do need to go to an emergency department, make sure they are ready to receive you and tell them about the COVID-19 quarantine notification you received. Some symptoms require that you seek medical help immediately. If you develop any of the following symptoms, please call 911 or call ahead to the Emergency Room to let them know that you have been identified as a close contact of someone with COVID 19 and be prepared to share your date of exposure. Let them know what symptoms you are having. If you develop any of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical care or call 911 immediately: Trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face. |
2. Can I go to work if I have been quarantined? |
Patients in quarantine SHOULD NOT WORK, EVEN IF THEY FEEL NO SYMPTOMS. Certain exceptions may be allowed for defined essential work; however, that would be discussed with County Public Health Department staff and per your employer's request. |
3. Can I be outdoors while I am in quarantine? |
Quarantine stops other people from getting infected, especially vulnerable people in your household and community. Do not go to work, school, friends or family member’s houses or public places. |
4. Can I go to the grocery store or pharmacy? |
No. A quarantine order means you are to stay at home. If you need assistance beyond what your household members can provide, contact County Public Health at (805) 781-5500. |
5. Can I participate in gatherings such as family parties, barbeques, funerals, or celebrations while I am in quarantine or isolation? |
NO, this is extremely dangerous due to your potential contagious illness. Even if you do not feel ill, you can expose others. |
6. What is the difference between Quarantine and Isolation? |
Isolation and Quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease.
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7. If I'm ordered to quarantine, should I get tested? |
We recommend you get tested if you start experiencing symptoms. You should ask your health care provider if you should get tested even if you feel well. A negative test does not shorten the duration of quarantine. Testing is not recommended for people who had a positive COVID-19 PCR test in the past 90 days and do not currently have symptoms of COVID-19. |
8. Do I have to quarantine if I've been vaccinated against COVID-19? |
For the time being, you must follow quarantine instructions. We expect to receive more guidance about this from State and Federal health officials. |
9. Why did I receive a quarantine text message instead of a phone call? |
The County of SLO Public Health Department is currently experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases that has outpaced our contact tracing resources. In order to respond quickly and effectively to reduce further spread of the virus, we are notifying some individuals by text message rather than a phone call. We are counting on our residents to follow the steps above to protect themselves, their family, friends, co-workers, and community. |
10. Will I be receiving a quarantine order or letter? |
If you received a text notification to quarantine, you will not receive any further documentation from the Public Health Department. However, if you need documentation of your quarantine order, you may submit a request online. |
11. Can I get released from quarantine if I test negative for COVID-19? |
If you get tested for COVID-19, and it is negative, you must still quarantine for at least 10 days. The virus that causes COVID-19 can incubate in your system for up to 14 days without detection from a test. You do not need a negative test to end quarantine. |
12. Do I need to quarantine if I've already had COVID-19? |
If you have had a positive COVID-19 PCR test in the last 90 days, talk with your medical provider about the need to quarantine. |
13. What if I still have questions? |
Visit the California Department of Public Health website www.cdph.ca.gov/covid19 or ReadySLO.org. Call your medical provider for any questions related to your health. |
REMEMBER: COVID-19 spreads from infected people to others when they are working, living, or sharing social moments together.
YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY TO HELPING US STOP THIS EPIDEMIC. STAY HOME, STAY SAFE, AND KEEP THOSE YOU LOVE SAFE!
WHAT IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you have questions please contact the Public Health Department at (805) 781-5500.
Contact Us
Office of Emergency Services
1055 Monterey Street D430
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Telephone: 805-543-2444
Email: oes@co.slo.ca.us