How long after testing positive can you return to work

Isolation

If you test positive for COVID-19, you will be contagious for a number of days, even if you do not have any symptoms. This is why you go into isolation. This means that you stay separate to avoid infecting others. Stay in your own room. During that time, avoid all contact with your household members. 
If you know that you have COVID-19, immediately inform the people that you had contact with. This page explains how to inform your contacts.

Self-isolating: how long?

If you were tested for COVID-19 due to symptoms, then you need to self-isolate for up to 10 days, counting from the date on which your symptoms started. You may stop self-isolating sooner if it has been at least 5 days since your symptoms started (fever, coughing, sore throat and nasal cold) AND you have been symptom-free for 24 hours.

It is possible that you did not have any symptoms when you had the GGD test or used a self-test, and you may not have developed any symptoms at all. In that case, you should self-isolate for 5 days, counting from the date on which you tested positive. If you do develop symptoms that could indicate COVID-19 while you are self-isolating at home, a new isolation period starts, counting from the date on which your symptoms started. 

More information about self-isolating

What if complete isolation is impossible?

Staying alone in your own room during isolation is not feasible or desirable for everyone. Children may not be able to isolate completely, for example – especially if they are still very young.

Read more about children, COVID-19 and isolation on Government.nl. 

Frequently asked questions about quarantine and COVID-19

Is it possible for people to develop symptoms even after testing negative for COVID-19 on day 5?

A few of the close contacts identified from source and contact tracing only developed symptoms 7 days after their last contact with a person who has COVID-19. You can stop quarantining if you test negative for COVID-19 on day 5. However, it is still important to keep track of whether you develop symptoms.

How can we isolate in a household with more than one infection?

You can leave isolation once you are no longer contagious. Are you just coming out of isolation, and did another household member test positive for COVID-19 at that time? Then you do not have to avoid contact with the household member who tested positive. The risk that you will be infected again is incredibly low. 
If several household members have COVID-19 at the same time, they can go into isolation together. Since they are already infected, they do not need to distance from each other. 

Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation for the public. People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter. The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after.

Additionally, CDC is updating the recommended quarantine period for anyone in the general public who is exposed to COVID-19. For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. Alternatively, if a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure. Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.  For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.

Isolation relates to behavior after a confirmed infection. Isolation for 5 days followed by wearing a well-fitting mask will minimize the risk of spreading the virus to others. Quarantine refers to the time following exposure to the virus or close contact with someone known to have COVID-19. Both updates come as the Omicron variant continues to spread throughout the U.S. and reflects the current science on when and for how long a person is maximally infectious. These recommendations do not supersede state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, nor do they apply to healthcare workers for whom CDC has updated guidance.

Data from South Africa and the United Kingdom demonstrate that vaccine effectiveness against infection for two doses of an mRNA vaccine is approximately 35%. A COVID-19 vaccine booster dose restores vaccine effectiveness against infection to 75%. COVID-19 vaccination decreases the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. CDC strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 5 and older and boosters for everyone 16 and older. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our communities.

The following is attributable to CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky:

“The Omicron variant is spreading quickly and has the potential to impact all facets of our society. CDC’s updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses. These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives. Prevention is our best option: get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial and high community transmission, and take a test before you gather.”

When are you no longer contagious with Covid?

Can I be around people 5 days after testing positive?

Are you contagious 5 days after Covid?