IDPH is adopting CDC guidance on shortening isolation and quarantine periods for COVID-19 for the general public starting on December 30, 2021.
A CDC press release on December 27, 2021, announced a reduction in the isolation periods for
persons with COVID-19 and a reduction in the quarantine period for those who are close
contacts to someone with COVID-19. Schools should continue to follow the IDPH COVID-19
School Guidance for children who have received the primary vaccination series and are not
eligible for booster doses after 6 months. Health care personnel and other specific groups and
settings should continue to follow their respective guidance, see additional resources in this
document. Guidance applicable to specific settings are in revision and will be made available
when finalized.
Reduction in Isolation Period for Those Testing Positive for COVID-19
• Everyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status,
should stay masked when around others for 10 days following onset of symptoms, or if
no symptoms for 10 days following date of positive test.
• Everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 , regardless of vaccination status, should
isolate for 5 days after onset of symptoms, or 5 days after date of positive test if no
symptoms are present
• If the case has no symptoms or their symptoms have resolved after 5 days, they are
released from isolation after 5 days. They should continue to wear a mask around others
for 5 additional days
Reduction in Quarantine Period if You are a Close Contact to Someone with
COVID-19
| If you: Are eligible for boosting and have been boosted1 OR Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna within the last 6 months OR Completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months | Wear a mask around others for 10 days Test on day 5, if possible If a person develops symptoms, they should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not caused by COVID-19 |
| If you: Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted OR Completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted OR Are unvaccinated | Stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days Test on day 5, if possible If a person develops symptoms, they should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not caused by COVID-19 |
Children who have received the primary vaccination series and are not eligible for booster doses after 6
months should not be excluded from school after close contact unless they develop symptoms and test
positive for COVID
Additional Resources
General public: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html
Health care workers: See December 24 SIREN sent out from IDPH
Correctional facilities: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/correctiondetention/guidance-correctional-detention.html?deliveryName=DM26232
Congregate health care: Under revision
Target Audience
Local Health Departments, Infectious Disease Physicians, Hospital Emergency Departments,
Infection Control Preventionists, Health Care Providers
Date Issued
12/30/2021
Contact
Communicable Disease Control Section, Office of Disease Control, Illinois Department of Public
Health
***Report Courtesy of the Illinois Department of Public Health***
