Difference between COVID-19 quarantine and isolation explained

With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Montgomery County, and most of those through contact with a positive case, Montgomery County Public Health Administrator Sam Beeson said they’ve received numerous questions on the difference between quarantine and isolation.

She said quarantine and isolation are similar, but have different meaning and guidance.

“Quarantine is when an individual has had a close contact (within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) with a lab confirmed positive case. Those individuals will be encouraged to quarantine in their home, away from others, for 14 days from the date of their last known exposure,” Beeson explained. “Isolation is when an individual has a positive COVID test. Those individuals will be contacted by their local public health department, who then will interview and encourage the individual to isolate in their home for 10 days.

The start of the 10 days is either from symptom onset date or the date of the test if asymptomatic. At the end of the 10 days, if they have remained fever free for the last 24 hours and other symptoms have improved, they will be released from isolation.”

She added it is important to remember that one cannot test out of quarantine and isolation.

“If an individual has been a confirmed positive case, they will remain in isolation for at least the 10 days. If the individual’s symptoms have not improved and they haven’t been fever free for 24 hours, they will be asked to remain in isolation.

The same goes for quarantine. If an individual was exposed to a confirmed COVID case and has been identified as a close contact, they are going to be asked to quarantine for 14 days from the date of the last known exposure. It can take up to 14 days from an exposure for symptoms to present themselves, so that is why staying in quarantine for the 14 days is so important.”

If individuals are considered essential workers, they may be expected to report to work if they remain asymptomatic. Individuals are encouraged to wear a face covering, practice good hand hygiene, and monitor their symptoms closely. They will also be encouraged to quarantine when not at work.

If symptoms present themselves within the 14 days, the individual should quarantine at home and consult their primary care physician or take the Test Iowa assessment at testiowa.com to get tested.

Individuals with questions are encouraged to contact the MCPH office at 712-623-4893. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.