Recommendations for People Who Test Positive

For people who test positive for COVID-19, starting from January 9, 2024, the CDPH has changed how long you should isolate based on your symptoms. Here’s what they recommend:

• Stay at home if you have COVID-19 symptoms until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using medication, AND your other symptoms are mild and getting better!

1. 1. 1. Wear a high-quality mask! Masks should either be a tight-fitting N95 or KN95.
      2. Isolate as best as you can in your house, especially if you are living with others! Stay in your room!
      3. Do not travel or go to places where you are unable to mask.
      4. Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
      5. Improve air ventilation at home, if possible. You can open your windows for cross-ventilation, use HEPA filters, or you can build your own Corsi-Rosenthal high volume room-air exchange box! 
      6. Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
      7. Keep track of your symptoms!
         1. If they become severe, contact emergency medical care immediately.

• Benefits of taking COVID-19 Medication
  1. 1. Paxlovid is one antiviral medication that can help you feel better if you are showing symptoms!
     2. Even if you have mild symptoms, you should still take it as soon as possible and within 5 days of the beginning of symptoms.
     3. You may feel much better within 24 to 48 hours, but the main reason to take this medication is that it diminishes the risk of long COVID-19 syndrome. 
     4. Pediatric patients under 12 years old or weighing less than 88 pounds should not take Paxlovid. No one with liver disease should take Paxlovid. 
     5. Whether you take Paxlovid or not, there is the risk of a rebound in your COVID-19 symptoms. 
• If you have a positive COVID-19 test and do not show symptoms, you should follow the recommendations below to protect others!
  • Mask when you are around others for 10 days after testing positive or showing symptoms. 

1. 1. 1. 1. You can stop wearing a mask sooner than 10 days if you have two negative tests in a row, taken at least a day apart.
         2. Day 0 is when you first started showing symptoms or when you tested positive. 

• • Avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe COVID-19, like older adults, people in care facilities, and those with weakened immune systems.

• • Ask for help from a healthcare provider if you are at higher risk for severe COVID-19. Your doctor may be able to provide antiviral medications.

1. 1. 1. ​​​​​​​​​Call 1-833-422-4255 if you are unable to contact a healthcare provider, or use the treatment options to find one.

Recommendations for People Who Were in Close Contact 

• If you have symptoms, you should get tested and mask right away. 

• If you do not have symptoms but are at higher risk of severe infection, you should test within five days.

• If you do not have symptoms but have contact with those who are at higher risk, you should mask indoors when around those people for 10 days. The CDPH also recommends testing within 5 days after the exposure date. 

Remember to check the CDPH website for more information. Stay safe and take care of yourselves!