I Think I Have COVID-19

I have COVID. When can I go back to work?

Heather Young, PhD MPH
Published: January 15, 2022

If you have COVID and have symptoms, you should stay away from others to keep from spreading COVID. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), you can go back to work and safely be around others if

  • It has been at least 5 days since symptoms first appeared or positive test result AND
  • It has been at least 24 hours with no fever (without taking aspirin or tylenol or ibuprofen) AND
  • Your other COVID symptoms are improving. The only exception to this last point is related to the loss of taste and smell, because these symptoms might last for weeks or months. So continued loss of taste and smell is not a reason to stay in isolation.

AND 

  • You wear a mask around others for at least 5 more days. 

If your symptoms have NOT improved or you still have a fever, continue isolation until the symptoms have improved and the fevers have stopped. Then wear a mask around others for 5 more days. 

Although CDC says you do not have to test negative to end your isolation period, we recommend you take a home test on day 5 to make sure you likely aren’t contagious. If your test result is positive, you should test yourself every few days and continue to isolate until your test is negative or until day 10 (whichever comes first).

Last update: January 7, 2021, 4:42 pm ET

Science review: JAB