Tracking your close contacts

November 24, 2020

You can still be social — just mask up and maintain distance, even when outside. UAF photo by JR Ancheta.

We hear a lot of talk about “close contacts,” but what does that mean?

You are a close contact if you were within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes any time during the two days before they:

started showing symptoms, or

tested positive and went into isolation.

You are probably not a “close contact” if

you were never in immediate, direct contact with an infected individual

your interactions were for less than 15 cumulative minutes

you stayed at least 6 feet away from the infected person.

You are not a “close contact” if you have contact with someone who is. This has been coming up in cases where someone has a household member who tests positive. In that case, the person who tests positive must isolate and others in their household must quarantine. Close contacts of a COVID-19 patient's household members do not need to quarantine.

The State of Alaska has lots of good information, including:

"Keep your social circle small — very small!"

"Who is in your bubble?" worksheet (PDF)

Celebrating holidays safely