Testing out of Quarantine

As we continue to implement the CDC’s recommendations for navigating COVID-19, one question that keeps reoccurring is “Can my child provide a negative COVID-19 test to get out of the 14-day quarantine?” The unfortunate short answer is: no, a negative COVID-19 test may not get you out of quarantine.

When a person becomes a close contact to COVID-19, he/she must quarantine for 14 days. This ensures a few things:
• An asymptomatic person does not assume he/she is negative for COVID-19 and unknowingly expose others to the virus
•  A person isolates while monitoring for the onset of symptoms, which is typically 5 days
• A person allows the virus to run its course and ensure he/she is no longer contagious to others

One reason the CDC does not allow people to test out of quarantine is due to false-negative results that can occur within the first few days or throughout COVID-19’s cycle. Per Dr. Lauren M. Kucirka of Johns Hopkins University, false-negative tests are most likely within the first 4 days of infection and least likely “8 days after infection or 3 days after the onset of symptoms.” Reasons being, COVID-19 tests are reliant on the amount of viral shedding in an individual and sample collection techniques, which may vary.

However, per the CDC: anyone who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and who meets the following criteria does NOT need to stay home.
  • Has COVID-19 illness within the previous 3 months
  • Has recovered and
  • Remains without COVID-19 symptoms (for example, cough, shortness of breath)

Additionally, a student may get an antibody test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. If a student tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and is asymptomatic, he/she does NOT need to stay home after being exposed to a close contact. However, the student is still required to follow grade level COVID-19 protocols. The antibody test will be recognized by the school for 14 days from the date of specimen collection.

Fortunately, testing is improving, possibly allowing for a future scenario for people to definitively test out of the recommended 14-day quarantine. Also, it appears vaccine trials are emerging with success, per Pfizer’s most recent announcement with their COVID-19 vaccine trials. In the meantime, we will continue to ask close contacts to quarantine for 14 days.