OHIO — The Ohio Department of Health updated the state's COVID-19 quarantine and isolation guidance Thursday to align with new protocols released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Regardless of vaccination status, everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least five days. 

“Evidence shows that the majority of COVID-19 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to symptom onset, and in the 2-3 days after symptoms begin,” explained State Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff. “The CDC’s updated quarantine and isolation guidance takes the latest science and evidence into consideration, with a focus on testing, masking, and symptom monitoring — similar to Ohio’s reduced quarantine guidelines in the state’s ‘mask to stay’ and ‘test to play’ guidance.”  

The protocols state when a vaccinated or unvaccinated person tests positive, they should stay home for at least five days. If there are no symptoms after the fifth day, the CDC recommends wearing a mask for 10 days while resuming normal activities. If symptoms persist, such as a fever or cough, health officials urge individuals to stay home for another five days.  

If someone who is fully vaccinated has been exposed to COVID-19 and has not tested negative or positive yet, individuals are encouraged to wear a mask for 10 days and get tested on the fifth day following the exposure. If symptoms develop, health officials ask that you stay home. 

For those who are unvaccinated and learned they were exposed to COVID-19, the CDC and ODH recommends staying home for five days, and then wearing a mask when you're out for the next five days. Health officials also recommend getting tested on the fifth day following exposure. 

The updated guidance comes as Ohio surpassed a pandemic all-time high for single-day cases. 

On Thursday, the state reported 19,774 new cases. More than 5,400 people are hospitalized for COVID-19 throughout the state, accounting for one in five patients who have the virus.