The following is guidance to be followed by cases and close contacts following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis:

Isolation Guidelines for a Positive Individual:

• Isolate from others in the household in a private bedroom and utilize own bathroom (if available)
• Remain in isolation for a 10 day period from the start of symptoms or test date if asymptomatic
• To calculate your 10 day isolation period, the first date of symptoms (or test date) is day zero. Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms develop (or are tested)
• Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils
• Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately
• Isolation can be broken on the 11th day after symptoms appeared or positive test if symptoms have improved and you are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication

Quarantine Guidelines for Close Contacts who are Unvaccinated:

• A close contact is someone who is less than 6 feet away from an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period within the 2 days prior to the case developing symptoms or testing positive if asymptomatic.
• Anyone who has had a close contact with someone with COVID-19 should quarantine for one of the 2 following options from the date of their last exposure to the case:
  • 7 days with a negative test on days 5, 6 or 7. End quarantine on 8^th day.
  • 10 days if not seeking testing option above. End quarantine on 11^th day.
• Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 including cold-like symptoms, fever, cough, and loss of smell or taste. Get tested if such symptoms occur.
• If possible, stay away from other household members, especially people at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, including the elderly and the immuno-compromised
• Sleep in a separate bedroom and use separate bathroom, if possible
• Do not allow visitors or allow children to have playdates with others who are quarantined

  Close Contacts Who Do Not Need to Quarantine:

• Someone who has been fully vaccinated and shows no symptoms of COVID-19 does not need to quarantine. However, fully vaccinated close contacts should:
  • Wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until a negative test result between 5-7 days after last exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19
  • Get tested and isolate immediately if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
• Someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the previous 90 days and has recovered and remains without COVID-19 symptoms does not need to quarantine. However, these close contacts should:
  • Wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days after exposure
  • Monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days and isolate immediately if symptoms develop

Fairfield Public School Students:

• If you have a child in the Fairfield Public Schools who has tested positive, or a family member that has tested positive, or if they have been identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 individual, please call your child’s school for further guidance. In off-hours a positive student can also be called in to the COVID-19 hotline at (203) 255-8785.

If you have any additional questions, please call the Fairfield Health Department at (203) 256-3150.