Contact Tracing
Close Contacts
You're a close contact to a positive case of COVID-19. Here's what to do next.
While you are waiting for Public Health to get in touch with you, there are a few steps you can take in advance:
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 14 days starting from the last day you had contact with a positive
case. When Public Health contacts you, you will be given a clearance letter, showing the date you can
discontinue quarantine and resume normal activities. 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.
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 wait patiently for Public Health to contact you. We have a large caseload that has overwhelmed our public health system and a case investigator will contact you as soon as 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
