Isolation and Quarantine Guidance

This guidance applies to K-12 schools and child care, as well as the general population, and supersedes any prior guidance. This guidance does not supersede any directions or orders issued by Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

COVID-19 Health and Safety Procedures - Montgomery County Public Schools
Guidance Regarding COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Illnesses in K-12 Schools and Child Care (PDF), Maryland Department of Health and State Department of Education

The following populations should continue to follow setting and profession specific recommendations as well as other applicable state and federal orders and regulations:

Health care settings, including health care personnel, residents or patients residing in health care facilities,
Long-term care and other specific congregate living settings (including nursing homes, group homes, assisted living facilities, and congregate shelters),
Staff and residents of correctional and detention facilities, and
Where an employee’s absence would cause operational deficiencies in key services (e.g., fire, police, sheriffs, and corrections)

Learn about COVID-19 treatment options.

ISOLATION: Persons who tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status

Persons who test positive for COVID-19

Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms started in symptomatic persons or the first full day after the person tested positive if if asymptomatic.

Day	Action
Day 1-5	Stay home, isolate, wear a well-fitting mask around others in your home.
Day 6-10	You may leave your home if: you have no symptoms, or if your symptoms have improved, and you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever reducing medication. You must continue to stay home if you have symptoms that are not improving. If you cannot wear a well-fitting mask while around others through Day 10, you should remain in isolation through Day 10.
Day 11	You may end isolation if: you have no symptoms, or if your symptoms have improved, and you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever reducing medication. You must continue to stay home and isolate if you still have symptoms that are not improving and should consult with a health care provider before ending isolation.
All days	During isolation, you must: wear a well-fitting mask if you must be around others, avoid being around people who are high risk, and avoid travel.

Persons with symptoms (presumed positive)

who have:

Tested negative,
Are awaiting test results, or
Who are unable to test due to test supply or unavailability.

Day	Action
All days	Stay home until: your symptoms have improved, and you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever reducing medication, or you have a negative PCR test result. During isolation, you must: wear a well-fitting mask if you must be around others, avoid being around people who are high risk, and avoid travel. For persistent symptoms, you should consult with a health care provider.

Day

Action

All days

Stay home until:

your symptoms have improved, and you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever reducing medication, or
you have a negative PCR test result.

During isolation, you must:

wear a well-fitting mask if you must be around others,
avoid being around people who are high risk, and
avoid travel.

For persistent symptoms, you should consult with a health care provider.

QUARANTINE: Persons who are exposed to someone with COVID-19 and have no symptoms

Persons who tested negative for COVID-19 within the last 90 days

Day 1 is considered the first full day after the date of last close contact.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO QUARANTINE, BUT:

Day	Action
For 10 days	wear a well-fitting mask whenever you are around others, monitor for symptoms avoid being around people who are high risk, and avoid travel.
Day 5-10	Get tested. If your result is positive, stay home and follow recommendations for isolation.

If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home and follow recommendations for isolation.

Persons who tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days

YOU DO NOT NEED TO QUARANTINE, BUT:

For 10 days, you should:

wear a well-fitting mask whenever you are around others,
monitor for symptoms
avoid being around people who are high risk, and
avoid travel.

If you develop new symptoms after you recovered from the last time you tested positive, isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. If positive follow recommendations for isolation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to wear a mask during isolation or quarantine?

During periods of isolation or quarantine, unmasked time should be minimized, and physical distancing and ventilation should be maximized whenever you are around others. You should avoid participating in any unmasked activities with others (including eating and drinking). It is strongly encouraged that everyone wears size appropriate (child or adult size) well-fitting masks, such as KN95 masks.

When is someone up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines?

See CDC details for being up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.

What does “high risk” mean?

Individuals who are more susceptible to complications from COVID. Individuals at high risk for COVID-19 include those 65 and older and people of any age with certain medical conditions. See the CDC’s full list of high risk medical conditions.

What type of COVID-19 tests should I take?

There are two diagnostic tests for COVID-19 include molecular (RT-PCR, sometimes just called PCR) and viral antigen tests. Antibody tests are not recommended to identify a current COVID-19 infection. See more information about different types of diagnostic tests on the CDC website.

Self-testing, using over the counter or home rapid tests, if positive, maybe used as indication of current infection. If a rapid home test is used, it should be used as directed, including a repeat test, and may need to be confirmed with a molecular (PCR) test.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Symptoms of COVID-19 include: fever or chills, cough (either new or different than usual), 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, or diarrhea. Watch for fever, which means feeling feverish or having a measured temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher. If you take fever-reducing medication such as ibuprofen, wait 6 hours after taking your last dose before taking your temperature. Learn more about symptoms on the CDC website.

What is a close contact?

A close contact of someone with COVID-19 (or suspected of having COVID-19) includes, but is not necessarily limited to, being within 6 feet of infected persons for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (e.g., three 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes).

Are there times when children who have returned to school or childcare after 5 days from quarantine or isolation may remove masks?

Yes. Masks may be removed only when eating and during naptime. Unmasked time should be minimized and physical distancing and ventilation maximized during these times. People should not be participating in any other activities unmasked. The CDC recommends that Early Care and Education programs should separate children’s naptime mats or cribs and place them so that children are head to toe for sleeping with as much distance as possible between mats, ideally at least 6 feet apart. Layer additional strategies, such as improved ventilation, if possible. Masks should not be worn when sleeping, even by children who are within the 5-day period after returning from quarantine or isolation.

Are children under 2 years of age recommended to return earlier than 10 days to a child care setting from isolation or quarantine?

See current CDC guidance for management of cases and exposures in early care programs.

Additional resources

Use TellYourContacts.org to anonymously notify your contacts.
Find a testing site near you.
Use the CDC's Coronavirus Self Checker to help you make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care. This system is not intended for the diagnosis or treatment of disease, including COVID-19.
This guidance is based on the latest CDC recommendations.