Isolation and quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease.
Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
Isolation separates and restricts the movement of sick people so they can’t spread disease to healthy people.
Isolation is a routine procedure in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Isolation is usually voluntary, but officials have the authority to isolate people who are sick if necessary.
Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.
Quarantined people may or may not become sick.
Quarantined people should stay at home or another location so they don’t spread disease to healthy people.
If you are quarantined and you become ill, you can seek medical treatment from a healthcare provider.
Quarantine can be voluntary, but officials have the authority to quarantine people who have been exposed to an infectious disease if necessary
