Day 1 of COVID is the first full day after you either develop symptoms or have a positive COVID-19 test result.
Here's a breakdown of how to calculate COVID isolation days, based on the reference provided from the 4CD document:
Understanding COVID Isolation Days
According to the 4CD document, calculating isolation days involves these key steps:
- Day 0: This is the day you first experience COVID-19 symptoms OR the day your test specimen was collected for a positive viral test.
- Day 1: This is the first full day after your symptoms began or your test specimen was collected. This is what the original question asks about.
- Isolation Period: The reference recommends isolating for at least 5 days after Day 0.
Example
Let's illustrate with an example:
| Scenario | Day 0 (Start) | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptoms Onset | Symptoms started on Monday morning. | The full day of Tuesday. | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Positive Test Result | Test taken on Monday afternoon. | The full day of Tuesday. | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
Key Takeaways
- The important thing to remember is that Day 1 is not the day you felt sick or had your test; it is the day after that.
- Isolation should last at least 5 days after Day 0.
