Did you test positive for COVID-19? What to know about CDC's quarantine guidelines

Sarah Ladd, Louisville Courier Journal
·3 min read

In Kentucky, more than 1 in 4 people who get tested for COVID-19 are positive, and in Louisville that number is about 1 in 3 as the omicron variant continues its January surge.

With so many people testing positive, here's a reminder on what health experts say you should do:

What should I do if I test positive for COVID-19?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines dictate that people who test positive for COVID-19 should take these steps:

  • Monitor your symptoms. If you begin to have trouble breathing, seek emergency medical help. Other symptoms of COVID-19 may include fatigue, fever, cough, loss of taste or smell, and more.

  • If possible, stay in a separate room from others in the home and use a separate bathroom. Avoid all contact with others in the home and with pets.

  • Improve ventilation in the home by opening windows and/or doors to let fresh air in, if possible.

  • Don't use the same dishes or towels as others in the home.

  • If you must be around others in the home, wear a well-fitting mask.

Kentucky officials also say people who test positive should inform their close contacts who may have been exposed.

More: When is it open? How do I sign up? What to know about Churchill Downs COVID testing site

How long can I test positive for COVID-19?

Dr. Mark Burns, an infectious disease specialist with U of L Health, said he's seen some patients continue to see positive test results two to three months after they're contagious.

But, "we generally say that people are going to be contagious … a couple of days before they're symptomatic and about three days after they're symptomatic," he said.

Once a person is no longer contagious and is able to end isolation, they should still wear a well-fitting mask, especially on days six through 10 after exposure.

More: As COVID-19 cases soar, antibody treatments and new antiviral pills in very short supply

How long should people quarantine if they're exposed to COVID?

The commonwealth of Kentucky recommends people who are fully vaccinated and boosted (or those not yet eligible for a booster):

  • Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after exposure.

  • Get a COVID-19 test on day five.

  • Stay home and get a test if symptoms develop.

  • If no symptoms develop, quarantine is unnecessary.

If you are not fully vaccinated:

  • Quarantine for 10 days after exposure.

  • Get a COVID test on day five. If you have no symptoms and test negative, you may shorten quarantine to five days.

  • Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after exposure.

  • Stay home. Get tested if symptoms develop.

If you tested positive for COVID-19 and do not have symptoms:

  • Isolate for five days from the day you got your test.

  • Wear a well-fitting mask for another five days.

  • If wearing the mask properly for that amount of time is impossible, continue to isolate for 10 days.

More: When do you become contagious with COVID? What Kentucky officials recommend

When can you return to work after testing positive for COVID?

First- always communicate with your supervisors as your work. A company may have policies in place that differ from the CDC's guidelines.

People who are unvaccinated or have gone more than six months since receiving an mRNA vaccine or two months since the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should stay at home for at least five days and then wear a mask around others for five additional days, the CDC says.

Shannon Hall contributed. Reach health reporter Sarah Ladd at sladd@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ladd_sarah.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: COVID guidelines in Kentucky: What do I do if I test positive?