Isolation vs. Quarantine: What is the Difference?

Posted on: May 19, 2020 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Isolation vs. Quarantine: What is the Difference?

Do you use the terms isolation and quarantine interchangeably? You are not alone. Although both help stop the spread of infections, isolation is for people who are already sick, while quarantine is for those who might have been exposed to someone who has the illness. Even if they aren’t showing any symptoms yet, they are quarantined as a safety measure to see if they develop symptoms later. Let’s take a closer look at what these two terms actually mean.

What is Isolation?

Isolation means keeping a person with a contagious illness away from others so the disease doesn’t spread. This helps protect those around them from getting sick.

Here are some simple tips while isolating:

• Stay in your own room, if possible. If not, keep at least six feet of space between you and others.

• Wear a mask when you are in a room with others or when someone brings you food or supplies.

• Make sure you wash your hands often with soap and water. If that is not possible, you can use hand sanitiser or disinfecting wipes.

• Clean surfaces you touch a lot, like doorknobs, phones and countertops.

What is Quarantine?

Quarantine means staying away from other people after being around someone who is infected. This is done even if the person feels fine and doesn’t have any symptoms yet. During quarantine, the person is watched for a few days. They can safely return to normal activities if they don’t get sick or show symptoms.

Here are some simple things to do while you are in quarantine:

• Keep at least six feet away from others.

• Stay in your own room, if possible

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.

• Clean things you touch often, like doorknobs and counters.

• Try not to touch your face.

• Check for symptoms like fever, cough or trouble breathing.

Difference Between Isolation and Quarantine

The following are the differences between isolation and quarantine:

Parameters	Isolation	Quarantine
Purpose	Isolation is for people who are already sick or have tested positive for a contagious disease, whether or not they currently have symptoms.	Quarantine is meant for people who have been exposed to someone with a contagious disease but are not showing any symptoms yet.
Symptoms	Individuals in isolation have symptoms or have tested positive and are considered contagious to others.	Individuals in quarantine do not have any symptoms, but are being monitored in case they develop them later due to possible exposure.
Goal	The goal of isolation is to separate people who are already sick from healthy individuals to prevent the spread.	The goal of quarantine is to separate people who might become sick later. This is done to prevent them from unknowingly spreading the illness.
Duration	Isolation lasts for at least 7 to 10 days, and continues until symptoms improve and the person has had no fever for at least 72 hours.	Quarantine typically lasts 14 days after the last known exposure, which is the estimated incubation period for many infectious diseases.
Monitoring	In isolation, healthcare providers may check in regularly, and the person should report worsening symptoms like high fever or difficulty breathing.	While in quarantine, individuals should monitor themselves daily for symptoms such as fever, cough or trouble breathing, and report any changes.
Contact with others	People in isolation should have no contact with others until they are no longer contagious. Visitors are not allowed in person.	People in quarantine should limit all contact with others, including family members, and follow hygiene practices to prevent possible spread.

Conclusion

Isolation is for people who are sick or have tested positive for a contagious infection, while quarantine is for those who may have been exposed but aren't showing symptoms yet. Both are important steps to help stop the spread of infections.

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Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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