Throughout the past several months, the word quarantine has become a regular part of our vocabulary. Undoubtedly, you have also heard the words isolate or isolation, as they relate to having been exposed to COVID-19. However, some still may be unsure about how quarantine and isolation differ. Although both are public health measures meant to keep the public and our communities safe from a contagion like COVID-19, they are very different.
Understanding the Difference
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Quarantine is used to keep someone who MIGHT have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department.
Isolation is used to separate people infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, from people who are not infected. People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. In the home, anyone sick or infected should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific “sick room” or area and use a separate bathroom (if available).
Quarantine and isolation can be scary and overwhelming— it can feel lonely. It is important to find safe ways to help decrease the worry and uncertainty a loved one may experience.
