Quarantine

When to Quarantine

Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. 

Quarantine or isolation: What's the difference?

• Quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus away from others.
• Isolation keeps someone who is infected with the virus away from others, even in their home.

Who needs to quarantine?

People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19—excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months.

People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.

What counts as close contact?

• You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
• You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
• You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
• You shared eating or drinking utensils
• They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you

Steps to take

Stay home and monitor your health

• Wear a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed.
• Contact Health Services at (504) 520-7396 as soon as possible for further instructions.
• Students will be tested on Day 1 of the known exposure.
• Continue to watch for symptoms daily (fever, cough, headache, congestion, shortness of breath)
• You should wear K-95 or higher mask protection for a minimum of 10 days.
• Get tested on day 6 (at least five days after last exposure)
•  You are to test if there are no symptoms.
• If you are negative continue precautions through day 10.
• If you develop symptoms or test positive
• Isolate at once
• Stay home until you know your results
• If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19

Options to reduce quarantine

Reducing the length of quarantine may make it easier for people to quarantine by reducing the time they cannot work or go to school. A shorter quarantine period also can lessen stress on the public health system, especially when new infections are rapidly rising.

Options we will consider to when stopping quarantine:

• Quarantine can end after Day 10 post-exposure without testing and if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring.
• The quarantine can end after Day 7 post-exposure if a diagnostic specimen antigen tests negative and if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring (test must occur on day 5 or later). 

Persons can discontinue quarantine at these time points only if all of the following criteria are also met:

• No clinical evidence of COVID-19 has been elicited by daily symptom monitoring during the entirety of quarantine up to the time at which quarantine is discontinued.
• Daily symptom monitoring continues through quarantine Day 10.
• If you have symptoms, self-isolate yourself at once and contact your healthcare provider.
• Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from others, wash their hands, avoid crowds, and take other steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Contact Us

Office of Student Health Services

St. Joseph Academic & Health Resource Center

Building #13, Room 217

Office: 504-520-7396

Fax: 504-520-7962

​Mailing Address

​1 Drexel Drive
P.O. Box 36
New Orleans, LA 70125

Hours of Operation

Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM 

Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM 

1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Closed for Lunch