Close Contacts and Quarantine: COVID-19

On this page:
Setting-specific recommendations
Who does not need to quarantine
Who needs to quarantine
More information

You can spread COVID-19 to others starting a couple days before you have any symptoms, and even if you never have any symptoms. If you spend time close to someone with COVID-19, you may have it, too, but you may not know it. It is important to separate yourself from others when this happens, to keep from spreading the virus to others.

For more detailed guidance refer to CDC: Quarantine and Isolation. Learn why CDC updated quarantine and isolation guidance for the general population at CDC: What We Know About Quarantine and Isolation.

Exposure or close contact: Spending a total of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period within 6 feet or less of people with COVID-19.

In the K–12 indoor classroom setting the close contact definition excludes students who were between 3 to 6 feet of an infected student if both the infected student and the exposed students correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time. This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor classroom setting. For more information about close contacts in schools, refer to Schools and Child Care COVID-19: Best Practice Recommendations.

Quarantine: Staying home and away from others when you may have had close contact with (exposure to) the virus.

Isolation: Staying home and away from others when you test positive, feel sick, or have symptoms of COVID-19.

Well-fitting mask: A mask that fits snugly over your nose, mouth, and chin, without gaps at the edges.

Immunocompromised: A person with a weakened immune system. The immune system is how the body fights disease.

Setting-specific recommendations

These recommendations do not apply to certain high-risk settings. Refer to the following guidance on isolation or quarantine in health care settings or other high-risk group (congregate) settings:

• People who live or work in a health care or long-term care facility and are exposed to the COVID-19 virus should follow COVID-19 Recommendations for Health Care Workers (PDF).
• People who live or work in group living and care facilities, such as a homeless shelter or correctional facility, and are exposed to the virus should follow Communities: Homeless service provider and jails and correctional settings.
• Businesses, facilities, or other private settings are encouraged to follow MDH and CDC guidance at a minimum but may choose to require longer isolation or quarantine periods.

Who does not need to quarantine

If you have had a close contact with someone with COVID-19, you do not need to quarantine if:

• You are 5 years old or older and have completed ALL recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine when eligible, including a booster or additional doses. Refer to CDC: Stay Up to Date with Your Vaccines.
• You had COVID-19 in the past three months. Refer to CDC: COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know.

After exposure to the virus, you should still:

• Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days when around others, even at home. The 10 days start from the day after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19. The actual day of close contact is counted as day zero.
• Get tested at least five days after close contact. If you test positive, start counting again from day zero and follow isolation recommendations at If You Are Sick or Test Positive.
• Watch for symptoms for 10 days after close contact. If symptoms develop, stay home and away from others (isolate) and test immediately for COVID-19. Start counting again from day zero (day one is the first full day after your symptoms start) and follow isolation recommendations at If You Are Sick or Test Positive. This includes people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past three months, even if they are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

Who needs to quarantine

If you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19, you need to quarantine if:

• You are not vaccinated.
• You are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations. Refer to CDC: Stay Up to Date with Your Vaccines.

For EVERYONE who needs to quarantine:

• Stay at home for at least five full days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19. Refer to the special categories below, which have more specific information about how long you must quarantine.
  • Count your last day of close contact with someone with COVID-19 as day zero.
  • Day one starts the day after your last close contact.
• If possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home.
  • Use a separate bathroom if you can.
  • Avoid sharing personal household items (e.g., food, dishes, towels, or bedding).
• Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing (such as Uber or Lyft), or taxis.

Find the category below that describes you, for more quarantine information:

For more information on this guidance, visit CDC: Quarantine and Isolation.

More information

• What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 (PDF)
  Updated 12/21/21
  (Revising to align with new CDC guidance)
  (Updates to other languages will be posted when available.)
  Other languages: Close Contact

  • What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in Amharic (PDF)
  • What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in Arabic (PDF)
  • What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in Chinese (PDF)
  • What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in French (PDF)
  • What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in Hmong (PDF)
  • What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in Karen (PDF)
  • What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in Lao (PDF)
  • What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in Oromo (PDF)
  • What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in Russian (PDF)
  • What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in Somali (PDF)
  • What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in Spanish (PDF)
  • What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in Vietnamese (PDF)
• Case Investigation and Contact Tracing: COVID-19
  Explains the process public health uses to follow where the virus may be spreading in our communities to help slow the spread.