What’s the difference between self-isolation and quarantine?

Self-Isolation

• You have tested positive for COVID-19
• You are well enough to be looked after at home
• At time of initial publication (9 March 2020), in Australia, you can come out of self-isolation if all of the following apply
  • more than seven days since you became unwell
  • at least two days with no fever
  • at least one day of feeling better/having no symptoms
  • two tests 24 hours apart that are both negative

Quarantine

• You are at risk of having the COVID-19 infection (coronavirus), but not actually known to be infected. You may or may not end up with it
• You are asked to wait it out in isolation until 14 days have passed if you remain well. This reduces the chances of the infection spreading and applies if you have come back from the growing list of countries with a lot of infection or if you have had contact with someone who is positive
• If you become unwell during the 14 days, testing is done and if positive you move into isolation phase (or into hospital if very unwell)
• If unwell but testing is negative, we still want you to stay in quarantine until the 14 days are up, as the infection may take that long to show
• If well at the end of the 14 days, you may resume normal contact, providing you stay well

Why 14 days?

This seems to be the longest time in which this virus can be incubating before people become sick. If you are not sick 14 days after exposure then, as far as we know, you have not got this infection.