Answers To Common Covid Questions
When does your child need a COVID test?
If your child is symptomatic
When does your child NOT need a COVID test?
No testing is needed to end quarantine in children <5 years
No testing is necessary to end quarantine for ages 0-18
When is the PCR test the best testing option for my child?
When there is high suspicion of COVID with a negative rapid test
When required as a screening for travel, medical procedures, return to college
Who does not need to quarantine after a COVID exposure?
You are ages 18 or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
You are ages 5-17 years and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
You had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (you tested positive using a viral test).
Exposed <5 years or unvaccinated or unable to wear a mask
Quarantine x 10 days after the last contact with the person who has COVID
If you are unable to wear a mask when around others, you should continue to quarantine for 10 days.
CPA does not recommend testing after day #5 in children <5 years as children in this age group are not able to consistently wear a mask for the remainder 5 days as recommended by the CDC (days 6-10)
When should you isolate, and for how long if you test positive for COVID?
If you had COVID-19 and had symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days. To calculate your 5-day isolation period, day 0 is your first day of symptoms, and day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms develop. You can leave isolation after 5 full days.
You can end isolation after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved (Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation?).
You should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of your 5-day isolation period.
If you are unable to wear a mask when around others, you should continue to isolate for a full 10 days. Avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, and nursing homes and other high-risk settings, until after at least 10 days.
If you continue to have fever or your other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, you should wait to end your isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. Continue to wear a well-fitting mask. Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions.
Do not travel during your 5-day isolation period. After you end isolation, avoid travel until a full 10 days after your first day of symptoms. If you must travel on days 6-10, wear a well-fitting mask when you are around others for the entire duration of travel. If you are unable to wear a mask, you should not travel during the 10 days.
Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask, such as restaurants and some gyms, and avoid eating around others at home and at work until a full 10 days after your first day of symptoms.
Children unable to wear a mask consistently will need to isolate for 10 days