JCDHE announces shorter quarantine length

On Wednesday, Dec. 2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its recommendation for the length of time residents should stay in quarantine following close contact with someone who has COVID-19, if they are asymptomatic. Previously, quarantine lasted for a full 14 days. Now, as long as you don't develop symptoms, you can go about normal activities earlier. Johnson County Department of Health and Environment has adopted these recommendations.

You now have two options for when quarantine ends:

• Get tested on day 5 or later of an exposure to someone with COVID-19. If the test results are negative and you have no symptoms, you can go about normal activities on the eighth day. 
• If you choose not to get tested and have no symptoms, you are out of quarantine on the 11th day.

In both instances, you should continue to monitor your symptoms for the full 14 days. If you develop symptoms, get tested and isolate.

Nursing homes and correctional facilities will continue to follow the full 14-day quarantine guidelines, as before. 

• Get more information about the new quarantine guidance.
• Read frequently asked questions about the quarantine change.