These guidelines apply to general community settings in Los Angeles County. Regulations may vary in specific sectors, such as healthcare settings and high-risk congregate settings. They may also vary during an outbreak in any setting. The guidance is based on best available scientific and epidemiological knowledge and is subject to change. Businesses, organizations and schools can continue to implement more protective policies for their employees, students and customers, including adhering to the prior guidance requiring at least 5 days of isolation for those with COVID-19. Workers, contractors, and volunteers need to check with their organization and review any applicable sector-specific guidelines.
In addition, tell anyone you’ve been around while you were potentially infectious (that is, two days before and while you felt sick) that they have been exposed and need to follow the instructions for people exposed to COVID-19 below.
i This can include individuals in a hospital, skilled nursing facilities, correctional facilities, or facilities providing shelter to unhoused individuals.
For more information see LACDPH Instructions for COVID-19 Cases and Close Contacts. If you have questions, call the Public Health COVID Information Line at 1-833-540-0473.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or another respiratory illness, stay home away from others until you have not had a fever for 24 hours (without using fever-reducing medication) and other symptoms are mild and improving. Take the following actions while you isolate:
If your COVID-19 symptoms return or get worse after you have recovered, you may have COVID-19 rebound. Stay home until your symptoms improve. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms or concerns.
These guidelines apply to the general public in general community settings. In the workplace, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Non-Emergency Regulations or, in some workplaces, the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard. For additional information, consult with your employer and review the COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations FAQs.
Businesses, organizations, and schools can also choose to continue to implement more protective policies to protect their employees, students and customers, including adhering to the prior guidance requiring at least 5 days of isolation for those with COVID-19. Workers, contractors, and volunteers need to check with their organization.
Please note, LACDPH may also require more protective policies and practices in certain higher-risk workplace settings (such as healthcare facilities, correctional facilities, and facilities providing shelter to unhoused individuals). Please consult sector specific guidelines for details.
Public Health released new instructions for COVID-19 cases and close contacts for the general public in alignment with updated isolation guidance released by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and updated Cal/OSHA guidance for workplaces.
If you are feeling sick with cough, cold or flu symptoms, even if you are testing negative for COVID-19, you may have an infection that could spread to other people. Take the following actions: a) test for COVID-19 again at least 24 hours after your negative test result; b) stay home until your symptoms are improving and you have been fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medication; c) wear a mask around others for 10 days after you started feeling sick; and d) talk to your healthcare provider about additional testing or medication that may be appropriate, especially if you are at high risk for severe disease.
The period of time during which an infected person can spread COVID-19 to another person has not changed. Current evidence continues to show that people sick with COVID-19 are most likely to spread the virus to others beginning 2 days before their symptoms began (or, if they have no symptoms, 2 days before their positive test was taken) through day 10. Day 0 is the symptom onset date or first positive test date.
All individuals with COVID-19 need to wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask for a total of 10 days from symptom onset or their first positive test date (if asymptomatic) when around others; this applies to both indoor and outdoor settings. This includes individuals who test positive and have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. You can remove your mask sooner if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart.
Yes. You need to wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask for a total of 10 days when around others; this applies to both indoor and outdoor settings.
It is important to remember that there are factors that increase your risk of becoming sick.
If you have not had a fever for 24 hours and your symptoms have improved, you can go back to school or work. If your symptoms have not improved or you still have a fever, we recommend you seek medical care to ensure that you do not have complications or another health concern.
You may need to stay away from others for more than 10 days. Talk to your doctor about treatment options and when you can be around other people.
As long as you do not feel sick, you do not need to stay home for a set number of days. However, there is a chance you could still pass the infection to other people, who may get sick and are at high risk for severe disease. This is why it is important to wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days after testing positive.
You can still spread COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses, even if you have no symptoms. People with COVID-19 can be infectious 2 days before and up to 10 days after symptom onset or positive test date (if no symptoms). This has not changed, and that is why it remains important to wear a mask for 10 days after getting COVID-19.
Testing may be helpful and can help guide the actions you take in situations where the risk for disease transmission is increased, such as before or after travel or before attending a crowded indoor event. See our Testing page for more information.
If you need to speak with someone about your mental health, contact your doctor or call the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LAC DMH) 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-854-7771. Local mental health & wellbeing resources are available on the LAC DMH COVID-19 webpage. More information, including a list of crisis hotlines, is available on the CDC webpage Coping with Stress. LA County residents have free access to iPrevail.com, an online mental health resource in English and Spanish.
COVID-19 can spread more easily in congregate residential settings and residents of these facilities are at higher risk of getting very sick. This is why the recent guideline changes do not apply in these settings. Individuals who live or work in these facilities who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least 5 days after the start of symptoms or after testing positive. Isolation may end after Day 5 if you have not had a fever for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication) and other symptoms are improving. Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days after you started feeling sick or after you tested positive. Mask wearing after returning to work before completing Day 10 is required by Cal/OSHA.
Public Health has made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translation. However, no computerized translation is perfect and is not intended to replace traditional translation methods. If questions arise concerning the accuracy of the information, please refer to the English edition of the website, which is the official version.
