Contact Tracing
Close Contacts
You're a close contact to a positive case of COVID-19. Here's what to do next.
Because of the surge, Public Health is currently utilizing a prioritization protocol to follow up with positive cases and we are asking positive cases to notify their contacts. We are not currently able to provide clearance letters to close contacts to provide to their workplaces.
Stay at home. It is important that you stay home while you quarantine. Even if you don't feel sick, you can still potentially expose others around you if you've developed SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).
If you live with other people, minimize your contact with them as best as you can.
Know that quarantine typically lasts for 10 days (as of August 30, 2021) starting from the last day you
had contact with a positive case. If you live in the same household as a positive case and that case cannot
isolate away from you, your quarantine will begin on the positive person's last day of isolation
(the last day they are positive) so you quarantine could potentially last as long as 20-24
days. If you are a close contact and only you have been exposed, the rest of your
household will not need to quarantine.
Find out what your testing options are and make an appointment to get tested.
We recommend that close contacts get tested 5-7 days after their initial exposure to
a positive case to allow time for the virus to replicate genetic material to show up on
a PCR test. You can find out more about testing opportunities on our testing page.
If you decide to use an over-the-counter antigen test (e.g. BinaxNOW, Ellume, or Pixel),
and test positive, please schedule an appointment to get a confirmatory PCR test as
soon as possible and isolate until you receive those results before calling Public Health
to report yourself as a positive COVID-19 case.
Think about if you or anyone in your household is at high risk for developing serious
illness from COVID-19. You may consider quarantining away from those who are
vulnerable.
If you need to see a doctor or call emergency medical services during your isolation, please let them know you are a contact to a positive case of COVID-19 if possible.
Please do not go to work if you are positive. If your employer is forcing you to work while you are positive or has told you that you will lose your job if you do not come to work, please let us know ASAP at 707-464-0861.
Information for Close Contacts
Quarantine vs. Isolation (Español)
What Your Test Means (Español)
10 Ways to Manage Respiratory Symptoms at Home (Español)
Critical Infrastructure Workers
Pelican Bay State Prison Employee Handout
