# COVID: When am I not contagious? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Created:** [August 23, 2024, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-when-am-i-not-contagious/1006078 "2024-08-23T01:14:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-when-am-i-not-contagious/1006078/1 "2024-08-23T01:14:20Z")
Yeah…I’ve Googled this but the answers are all vague (probably intentionally so). I tested positive for COVID on Monday (and was actually sick the day before but tested on Monday). I was sick for 3-4 days and today (Thursday) I am feeling much better if a bit wiped out. Nothing a good night’s sleep can’t fix. I tested myself again (just minutes ago) and it was a clear negative. No COVID. So, can I go out in public again? Hang out with friends and so on without risking infecting anyone or, am I still contagious? (assume I shower and wash my clothes) If I am contagious, how much longer should I isolate? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-when-am-i-not-contagious/1006078/2 "2024-08-23T01:17:27Z")
I’d give up on the weekend. You’ll be tired early. Don’t need to stress out the system to cause a relapse. Take it easy. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-when-am-i-not-contagious/1006078/3 "2024-08-23T01:18:47Z")
The CDC revised its guidance on this regarding COVID earlier this year, to bring it in line with its guidance for other respiratory infections. > [@](#): > > The [updated guidance from the CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html) is to “stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory virus symptoms that aren’t better explained by another cause.” You can resume normal activities once your symptoms are improving and you’ve been fever-free—without the aid of fever-reducing medications—for at least 24 hours. > > For the five days after you resume your normal activities, you should take extra precautions, like wearing a well-fitting mask and maintaining distance from others, gathering outdoors or in well-ventilated areas, cleaning hands and high-touch surfaces often, and testing when possible before gathering with others. If symptoms or fever return, you should start back at square one: staying home and away from others until you’ve been improving and fever-free for at least 24 hours. > **[Virologist Explains the CDC’s New COVID Isolation Guidance | Johns Hopkins...](https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/virologist-explains-the-cdcs-new-covid-isolation-guidance)** > > The updated recommendations align guidance for COVID infection with that for other common respiratory viruses. > **[Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You're Sick](https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html)** > > Take steps to protect others while you are sick and when you start to feel better. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-when-am-i-not-contagious/1006078/4 "2024-08-23T03:05:23Z")
That fits with what I did when I had Covid a couple of months ago. I knew I had it on the Thursday, and by Sunday felt like I was recovered, if exhausted, so could return to normality on Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-when-am-i-not-contagious/1006078/5 "2024-08-23T03:23:21Z")
I’d suggest that you consider yourself contagious for at least a full week after your symptoms are gone.