How long after diagnosis can someone with Covid-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) break quarantine?

COVID-19 Quarantine Duration Guidelines

For most individuals with COVID-19, quarantine can be broken 10 days after symptom onset, provided they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without antipyretics and have experienced improvement in other symptoms. 1

Standard Quarantine Protocol

The CDC and other health authorities have established clear guidelines for ending COVID-19 isolation:

• Symptomatic individuals:

  • Wait at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared
  • Be fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications
  • Experience significant improvement in other COVID-19 symptoms 2, 1

• Asymptomatic individuals:

  • Maintain isolation for 10 days after the first positive COVID-19 test 1

Special Considerations

For Immunocompromised Patients

• A case-by-case approach is recommended for determining the length of isolation
• May require longer isolation periods and additional testing 2
• Consider consultation with infectious disease specialists 2

For Severe Cases

• Patients who experienced severe COVID-19 illness may require longer isolation periods
• A case-by-case approach is recommended, potentially with additional testing 2

Testing Considerations

• Two consecutive negative RT-PCR tests from respiratory tract samples with at least a 1-day interval can confirm clearance of the virus 2
• Some patients may continue to test positive via PCR despite no longer being infectious, particularly after day 10 3

Risk of Transmission After Quarantine

• The 10-day quarantine period carries approximately a 7% risk of post-quarantine transmission 1, 4
• A 7-day quarantine with a negative test result obtained within 48 hours before ending quarantine carries approximately a 19% risk of post-quarantine transmission 1, 4
• Studies show that among household contacts who received negative SARS-CoV-2 test results and remained asymptomatic through day 10, there was a 93% chance of remaining asymptomatic with negative RT-PCR results through day 14 4

Post-Quarantine Recommendations

• Continue monitoring for symptoms for a full 14 days after exposure
• Wear masks and maintain social distancing when around others
• Follow hand hygiene and other preventive measures 1, 5

Potential Pitfalls

• Ending quarantine too early may result in ongoing disease transmission
• Some patients may continue to test positive via PCR after day 10 despite no longer being infectious
• Certain populations (elderly, immunocompromised) may require longer isolation periods
• Household contacts have higher transmission risk and may need stricter adherence to quarantine guidelines 4

While the standard recommendation is 10 days of isolation, the most conservative approach remains a full 14-day quarantine period, which covers the complete incubation period of the virus. However, the 10-day option balances practical considerations with public health needs while maintaining a relatively low risk of post-quarantine transmission.