Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. "If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19," the guidance states. The CDC states that anyone who may have been exposed to someone with COVID should test five days after their exposure, or as soon as symptoms occur. the risk really is very low." When is the Best Time to Get Tested After Exposure? "And in that five-to-seven-day window, you know, there's some depending on whether people have been vaccinated, underlying conditions, etc., but the risk drops a lot and the feeling is that in the general population, combined with masking, etc. "This has to do with data from the CDC that really showed after seven days there's virtually no risk of transmission at this point," Arwady said. Allison Arwady said.įor those without symptoms, CDC guidance states they are considered contagious at least two days before their positive test. A lot of that is because many more people are vaccinated," Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. It is taking less time to develop symptoms, it is taking less time that someone may be infectious and it is, for many people, taking less time to recover. "It is taking less time from when someone is exposed to COVID to potentially develop infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance last month, shifting the timing for isolation and quarantine as some experts say the time frame when people are most contagious is earlier. When Are People with COVID Most Contagious?