I've used the terms isolation and quarantine a lot, and I'd like to talk a little bit about the differences between these two terms.
Isolation is used for someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Quarantine is is a term used for those who have been exposed to COVID-19 and need to separate themselves from others. It can be confusing because someone who has actually been diagnosed with COVID-19 must self-isolate for 10 days however someone who has been exposed to COVID-19 must separate themselves or quarantine for 14 days.
That doesn't seem fair however the reason behind that is that someone who has already been diagnosed with the illness is no longer infectious after their symptoms have resolved and at least 10 days have passed. For someone who has been exposed to the virus but has not yet become positive we know that it can take up to 14 days or that two-week period for symptoms to occur. This is why it's important for those who have been exposed to actually be separated for a longer period of time.
What if you are a close contact to someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19? A close contact means being with someone for more than 15 minutes of time and less than six feet apart. If you've been a close contact, you need to quarantine for 14 days.
What if you have been a contact of a contact? What do I mean by this? Your roommate has been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 but you haven't been associated with that person. You've just been with your roommate. You would be considered a contact of a contact. In this case,
you do not need to isolate or quarantine.
I want to thank you for helping use the tools that we have to fight this virus. Wearing facial coverings, using social distancing and using good hand hygiene and helping us to keep our Wolf Pack family healthy. I hope you have a wonderful, happy, safe and healthy semester.
