Los Angeles County Quarantine and Isolation Rules for a Positive Test or Close Contact with Covid-19

January 7, 2022 - The Los Angeles County Health Department has issued a detailed list of instructions for quarantining or isolating due to a positive Covid-19 test or an exposure to Covid-19. The rules have changed to make a distinction between the fully vaccinated and those who have also received booster shots.

If you yourself tested positive for Covid-19, you must isolate. This means:

Stay home a minimum of 5 days

Can end isolation after day 5 if asymptomatic and test negative

If test positive, have symptoms, or cannot test, isolate another 5 days

After a positive test, you must wear a high-grade mask when indoors and outdoors when around others for 10 days

If you were exposed to a Covid-19 case but have no symptoms and are boosted or vaccinated but not yet booster-eligible, then you are quarantine-exempt. However, you must:

Test immediately and test again on day 5 (and receive a negative result)

Monitor health for 10 days

Wear a high-grade mask for 10 days regardless of symptoms

If symptoms, stay home

If you were exposed to a Covid-19 case and have symptoms or you are unvaccinated or unboosted despite being eligible, then you must quarantine. This means:

Stay home a minimum of 5 days

Test immediately and test again on day 5

Can end isolation after day 5 if asymptomatic and day 5 test negative

Positive test at day 5 or symptoms means another 5 days of isolation

Wear a high-grade mask for 10 days regardless of symptoms

The equal treatment of the completely unvaccinated and the fully vaccinated but unboosted gives an indication of how much protection the County Health Department believes vaccinations to convey.