What should I do if I am not sick but have been in the proximity of someone who is under self-quarantine (i.e., the person was asked to self-quarantine because a potential exposure)?

Being a “secondary contact” does not require you to be quarantined under current CDC guidelines. You would only be required to quarantine if you have had close contact with someone diagnosed with a presumptive or confirmed case of COVID-19.  You should inform HR/Risk if someone in your household is ordered to quarantine.

You should do your best to avoid close contact with the exposed person for the duration of their quarantine because there is a possibility that they may not develop symptoms, but still be contagious as a carrier for the virus.

Monitor yourself for symptoms and regularly clean frequently touched surfaces.  You can still report to work following the CDC’s Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19.

If you do notice symptoms, contact your primary health care provider, notify your supervisor/manager, and stay home.  DO NOT report to work if you have symptoms.

Show All Answers

1. What should I do if I was potentially exposed outside of the workplace?
2. What should I do if I was potentially exposed in the workplace?
3. When should I be quarantined or isolated for 14 days?
4. If I am quarantined, am I expected to work remotely?
5. Do I need a doctor's note to return to work after quarantine?
6. What should I do if I am not sick but have been in the proximity of someone who is under self-quarantine (i.e., the person was asked to self-quarantine because a potential exposure)?
7. If a previously infected person has clinically recovered but later develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19, should the person be isolated again and tested for SARS-CoV-2?
8. If an infected person has clinically recovered and then later identified as a contact of a new case, do they need to be quarantined?
9. If an infected person has clinically recovered, using the symptom-based strategy, do they need a test to show they are not infectious?
10. If an infected person has clinically recovered, should the person continue to wear a cloth face covering in public?
11. Similarities and Differences between Flu and COVID-19
12. Can people who recover from COVID-19 be re-infected with SARS-CoV-2
13. If a person recovered and four weeks later through contact tracing, tested positive again, are they infectious to others or do they need to be in isolation?