COVID-19 Isolation/Quarantine Self-Assessment

Updated with CDC isolation and quarantine guidelines from 01/09/2022.

If you would like a chart version of the isolation/quarantine scenarios, click here.

You have had a primary high-risk exposure to COVID-19

(click here for degrees of exposure)

Quick Summary

  • You are fully vaccinated and you have no symptoms or one low-risk symptom.
  • You do not have to quarantine, but you should wear a mask in public for 10 days after your last exposure.
  • You should take a COVID-19 test 5 days or later after your last exposure.
  • Monitor for symptoms for the full 10 days after last exposure. If symptoms develop, retake the COVID-19 Self-Assessment for updated guidance.

What should I do?

Because you are fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms (or only one low-risk symptom), you do not have to quarantine at home. Wear a mask around others for 10 days from last exposure.

Do I need to schedule an appointment?

In most cases, there is no need for an appointment and you can just monitor for symptoms. Seek medical attention if there is a fever ≥101 for ≥3 days (or any fever ≥100.4 in children less than 3 months old), respiratory distress, dehydration symptoms, or lethargy.

You may also need an appointment if your school is requiring a note (please see the “How do I get a Return to School note?” section below).

Because you do not have any symptoms, you can come into the clinic for a visit. The Telemedicine visit option below is also available. Please call your Blue Fish location’s front desk staff to schedule an appointment.

If you develop symptoms, we have modified visit options for the safety of you, our other patients, and our staff.

  • Telemedicine visits – These visits occur through a video chat. You can call our front desk staff to schedule this appointment.
  • Car visits – If the doctor thinks that an in-person visit is warranted, we may have you park in front of our building and the doctor will come out to you. Call and speak to our medical assistant staff to see if the doctor will approve this type of visit.
  • End-of-day visits – If the doctor thinks that an in-person visit in the office is warranted, we may have you wait in the hallway at the end of our business hours and call you in directly to the closest room available. Call and speak to our medical assistant staff to see if the doctor will approve this type of visit.

Should I test?

You should take a COVID-19 test 5 days after your last exposure to the positive person. Testing should also be done if any symptoms develop. If it is positive, click here for COVID-19 positive isolation guidelines. A negative rapid antigen COVID-19 test should be verified with a PCR test.

Testing is no longer required if you complete the full 10 day masking period without symptoms developing.

You can go to one of the testing facilities below or contact your Blue Fish location for a lab slip to get a PCR test at a Memorial Hermann Urgent Care.

A PCR test recommended for the best accuracy. For a PCR test, POSITIVE results are reliable and NEGATIVE results are generally reliable. The later the test is taken after an exposure, the more accurate the results.

A RAPID ANTIGEN test can be taken for quicker results, but should be verified with a PCR test. For a rapid antigen test, POSITIVE results are reliable but NEGATIVE results are NOT reliable. A repeat rapid antigen test 36 hours apart from the first increases accuracy.

Local testing sites:

List of Harris County / Houston COVID-19 Nasopharyngeal Swab Testing Sites

Closest Testing Facilities by Blue Fish Location

Which test is best for COVID-19, PCR vs. rapid antigen vs. antibody?

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/which-test-is-best-for-covid-19-2020081020734

For additional counseling, please call the office to schedule a telemedicine visit with your doctor.

Can my mask time end sooner?

There are no shorter mask time options. You must wear a mask in public for the full 10 days from your last exposure date, and continue watching for symptoms during this time.

If your symptom status changes, please retake the COVID-19 Self-Assessment for updated advice.

What about my family?

If the positive COVID-19 person you were exposed to does not live in the house, the rest of your family is only a secondary exposure and does not need to quarantine. If you develop symptoms during your quarantine time or have a positive COVID-19 test, your family becomes a primary exposure and should follow primary exposure guidelines (click here for specific family member exposure guidelines and recommendations).

If the COVID-19 positive person lives in the household, that person should isolate from the rest of the family as soon as possible (click here for isolation guidance).

If the COVID-19 positive family member is unable to isolate from you or your family, these masking and testing timelines start at the end of their isolation period (5 days if they are able to mask an additional 5 days, or 10 days if they cannot mask) and masking guidelines should be followed throughout the person’s isolation as well. For unvaccinated/undervaccinated family members, click here for unvaccinated/undervaccinated quarantine guidelines. If you develop symptoms during the 10 days after exposure (or while continuously exposed during the positive person’s isolation), click here for isolation/quarantine guidelines.

If your child is COVID-19 positive and too young to isolate by themselves, parents and siblings may need to extend their quarantine times. For example, your younger child starts symptoms on September 1 and tests COVID-19 positive September 3. Mom is fully vaccinated and Dad is not, but both must help care for the child throughout their child’s isolation. The older child is also not vaccinated but is able to stay in a room away from the positive child once they find out about the positive test result.

  • Because isolation for a positive case always starts from the onset of symptoms when symptoms are present, your younger child should isolate for 10 days from September 1 until September 11 if they are unable to mask.
  • Mom’s masking period is recommended to end on September 21. Mom is continuously being exposed to a COVID-19 positive case throughout the younger child’s isolation. However, because Mom is fully vaccinated, she can continue to go out with a mask and does not need to quarantine as long as she is free of symptoms. Mom must continue to wear a mask throughout the younger child’s isolation period because of the continuous exposure. Mom’s last exposure date to COVID-19 is the last day of the younger child’s isolation period (September 11), which is the last day the virus can presumably be shed and spread. Mom should test for COVID-19 5 days or later after her last exposure (September 16 or later). Mom should continue to go out wearing a mask for 10 days from the last exposure (until September 21). Mom should continue to monitor for symptoms during the continuous exposure and for the full 10 days after last exposure (until September 21).
  • Dad’s quarantine is recommended to end September 16 but should mask in public until September 21. Dad is continuously being exposed to a COVID-19 positive case throughout the younger child’s isolation. Dad must continue to quarantine at home throughout the younger child’s isolation period because of the continuous exposure. Dad’s last exposure date to COVID-19 is the last day of the younger child’s isolation period (September 11), which is the last day the virus can presumably be shed and spread. Dad should test for COVID-19 5 days or later after his last exposure (September 16 or later). Dad should continue to quarantine for 5 days from the last exposure date (until September 16). If Dad is asymptomatic at the end of the 5 days, he can go out in public wearing a mask for an additional 5 days. Dad should continue to monitor for symptoms during the continuous exposure and for the full 5 days of the quarantine and 5 days of masking (until September 21).
  • The older child’s quarantine is recommended to end September 8 or September 13 depending on masking ability. The older child was able to stay in another room separated from the younger child starting on September 3. The last date of exposure is September 3. The older child should test for COVID-19 5 days or later after his/her last exposure (September 8 or later). The older child should quarantine at home for 5 days from the last exposure date (until September 8) and wear a mask in public for an additional 5 days (until September 13) as long as there are no symptoms. If the older child is unable to wear a mask in public, he/she should quarantine at home the full 10 days after exposure (until September 13). In either quarantine option, the older child should continue to monitor for symptoms for the full 10 days after last exposure (until September 13).
  • These timelines change if any symptoms develop or there is a positive COVID-19 test result.

When am I cleared?

As long as you do not develop symptoms, you are clear to be in the public with a mask. If you develop symptoms during the 14 days after exposure (or while continuously exposed during the positive person’s isolation), click here for updated exposure guidelines and recommendations.

How do I get a Return to School note?

Ask your school for their specific return requirements. Once you have completed your quarantine time, if you require a school note, please email your Blue Fish location with the following information:

  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Pediatrician name
  • Vaccination status
  • When was the last date you were exposed?
  • Does your school require a certain time to be quarantined?
  • Do you have any symptoms or did you ever develop any symptoms during your quarantine time?
  • Does your school require a negative COVID-19 test? Do you have a negative COVID-19 test?

You should receive a response within 1 business day. We will contact you if we need to schedule a visit to determine return status.

This COVID-19 Self-Assessment does not replace professional medical advice, but can guide you on quarantining and isolation guidelines. Parents should help answer for children. Each member of the family can take this Self-Assessment to determine their specific quarantine/isolation guidelines. You may retake this self-evaluation at anytime during your quarantine if circumstances change.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 911 or go to a pediatric emergency room.

By clicking the link below, you are acknowledging that this tool is used for guidance only and does not replace professional medical advice.

RESTART ASSESSMENT

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