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If you know that you have been in close proximity to someone with a dangerous infectious illness, such as COVID-19, it’s a good idea to self-quarantine in order to protect yourself and others. If you think you’ve been exposed to a contagious disease during an outbreak, contact your doctor or local public health department and ask if you need to quarantine yourself. You might get a notification about a potential exposure from your school, your employer, or your local public health department. Take any advisories like this seriously and don’t hesitate to ask questions if you’re not sure what to do. If you think you’ve been exposed to a disease like COVID-19 and you start to experience suspicious symptoms, call your doctor’s office and explain the situation. They may ask you to come in for a medical evaluation and testing, and they can also give you advice about whether self-quarantine is necessary for you.  For example, call your doctor right away if you experience symptoms such as a fever, coughing, or difficulty breathing, especially if you live in an area where COVID-19 is active. Don’t show up at your doctor’s office without calling ahead if you suspect you have a condition such as coronavirus or the flu. They may need to take special precautions in order to protect themselves, you, and their other patients from illness. Most clinics are currently offering phone or telehealth visits so that they can check your condition remotely and determine whether you need to come in for treatment and testing. If they think you need to be tested for the coronavirus, they can direct you to a site that has the necessary resources and facilities (such as drive-up testing or a negative pressure room). The typical recommended time for self-quarantine is 2 weeks. This will give you plenty of time to monitor your condition and determine whether you might pose a risk to others. If your doctor advises you to self-quarantine, ask them how long you need to stay home. If you develop symptoms or are officially diagnosed with a contagious illness such as COVID-19, you may need to stay home longer than 2 weeks. During your quarantine, it’s very important to keep to yourself so that you don’t risk making other people sick. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, avoid having visitors and keep your distance from other people who live with you. Limit contact with your pets as much as you can, including petting, cuddling, feeding, and grooming them.  Designate one room, such as your bedroom, for your exclusive use. Other people in the home should stay out of the room unless it’s absolutely necessary. If possible, avoid sharing a bathroom with other people in your home. If you need to have supplies or food delivered to your home, ask the person making the delivery to leave the items outside your door. If you have pets, ask a friend or someone else in your home to care for them until your quarantine period is over. If you have to interact with your pets, wash your hands before and after and wear a facemask. Even if you don’t have any obvious symptoms of illness, wear a facemask during your quarantine to reduce the risk of spreading a possible infection to others. Put on a mask if someone is visiting you, a family member has to enter your room, or you need to leave your home in order to get medical treatment.  If you’re not able to find facemasks in stores due to shortages, you can improvise one by tying a scarf or handkerchief over your nose and mouth.  Anyone who enters your room or needs to be in close contact with you during your quarantine should also wear a mask. Protect both yourself and others from the potential spread of disease during your quarantine by washing your hands regularly. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose; after you go to the bathroom; and before you prepare or eat food. If you don’t have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitizer that’s at least 60% alcohol. If you have to cough or sneeze, prevent the spread of potentially contaminated fluids from your mouth and nose by covering your face with a tissue. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm. Don’t leave used tissues sitting around. Throw them away immediately in a lined garbage can, then wash your hands with soap and water. Once a day, use a household cleaning product, such as a disinfectant wipe or general-purpose cleaner, to clean surfaces that you use regularly throughout the day. This includes things like doorknobs, counters, tabletops, light switches, and toilet seats. Wash anything you put in your mouth, such as eating utensils or thermometers, with soap and hot water. While you’re in quarantine, keep a close eye out for any signs that you may be getting sick or that your condition is worsening. If you notice new or worsening symptoms, call your doctor right away and ask for advice. Provide details about what kinds of symptoms you’re having, when they started, and what kinds of treatments you’ve been using, if any (such as over-the-counter medications).
Self-quarantine if you’ve been exposed to an infected person. Call your doctor immediately if you suspect you’re sick. Stay home for 14 days or as long as your doctor recommends. Avoid contact with other people or animals as much as possible. Wear a mask if you have to be around other people. Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water. Cover your mouth and nose whenever you cough or sneeze. Disinfect objects and surfaces you come into contact with. Monitor your condition closely and get medical help if anything changes.