July 11, 2020
There has been some confusion around what it means to have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. The guidance provided by the Department of Public Health defines exposure as:
• As an individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes; or
• An individual with unprotected contact with an infected person’s body fluids (i.e., being coughed or sneezing on); or
• An individual who shared utensils or saliva with an infected person; or
• An individual who provided care for an infected person without wearing appropriate protective equipment
•
So, what if you hear you were in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19?
If this is your predicament, you’ll want to learn as much as you can! The infected person you were in contact with was infectious 48 hours before their symptoms began, and remain contagious for a minimum of 2 weeks. This reality makes LA County’s DPH Home Quarantine Instructions for Close Contacts to COVID-19 more critical than ever. You’ll want to follow our quarantine guidance to avoid spreading the disease.
If you’ve tested positive and have no symptoms (are asymptomatic), you are considered infectious from 48 hours before your test was taken, until a minimum of 10 days after your test. You’ll need to follow our DPH Home Isolation Instructions for People with COVID-19.
