The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has listed the criteria for discontinuing isolation or quarantine for a patient with COVID-19.
Patient selection: patient in isolation or quarantine related to COVID-19
Situations:
(1) symptomatic, using a testing strategy
(2) symptomatic, using a non-testing strategy
(3) never symptomatic but diagnosed by a positive laboratory test
Symptomatic, Testing Strategy - all of the following:
(1) resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
(2) improvement in respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath)
(3) negative FDA molecular assay on >= 2 sequential specimens each >= 24 hours apart
Symptomatic, Non-testing Strategy
(1) >= 72 hours (3 days) with no fever AND not using fever-reducing medications;
(2) >= 72 hours (3 days) with improvement in cough and shortness of breath
(3) >= 7 days since symptom onset
Never symptomatic, positive test
(1) >= 7 days since first positive test
Extra precautions are needed in the following situations, with the testing strategy preferred:
(1) immunocompromised (increased risk, prolonged shedding)
(2) being discharged to nursing home
(3) discharge prior to meeting criteria for discontinuing quarantine
