What is home quarantine? 

Quarantine means separating a person or group of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease but have not developed symptoms from others who have not been exposed, in order to prevent the possible spread of that disease.

• Quarantine is usually established for the incubation period of the communicable disease, which is the span of time during which people have developed illness after exposure. For COVID-19, the period of quarantine is 14 days from the last date of exposure, because 14 days is the longest incubation period seen for similar coronaviruses.
• Someone who has been released from COVID-19 quarantine is not considered a risk for spreading the virus to others because they have not developed illness during the incubation period.

If required to stay under home quarantine, follow these guidelines to monitor your health and practice social distancing:

• Take your temperature with a thermometer twice a day and record any symptoms in a health log. Monitor your symptoms for presence of cough, difficulty breathing and changes in body temperature.
  • If you develop a fever above 100.4 degrees F or need medical assistance while in quarantine, please call your local healthcare provider to determine if you should leave the premises to seek medical attention. If you need after-hours assistance, The Ochsner On Call 24-hour help line can be reached at 1-800-888-2772.
• Stay home and do not leave your quarantine location for any nonessential reason. Do not go to work or school and refrain from travel during the quarantine period. Discuss your work situation with your employer before returning to work.
• Limit contact with other people as much as possible.
• Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares; keep your distance from others (about 6 feet).
• Look for remote options for things such as worship, grocery shopping, etc.
• If available, wear a face mask when using a shared bathroom, attending a health care appointment, etc.

Commonly Asked Questions About Home Quarantine

How can I prepare for home quarantine?

In the event of a home quarantine, there are foods, household supplies and medical items that experts recommend having on hand. Click here for the article. 

What are the obligations around quarantine from a legal standpoint? Can I be held responsible for the consequences of noncompliance? 

COVID-19 is a quarantinable communicable disease in the United States, meaning that individuals may be quarantined and/or restricted according to the CDC guidelines. Visit the following NCSL site for more information.

If I am quarantined, is it safe to take care of my child? 

Yes, a quarantined individual (not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19) can take care of his/her child(ren). It can be helpful to discuss coronavirus with your child so they understand what’s taking place. Quarantined people should continue to monitor their temperature and contact a healthcare provider if they have COVID19 symptoms and adjust to isolation procedures instead of quarantine.

Other tips from the CDC for home quarantine:

• Perform hand hygiene frequently. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60% to 95% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid sharing personal household items. You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels or bedding with other people or pets in your home. After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
• Clean all high-touch areas daily. High-touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product, including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
• Limit visitors in the home.