To protect yourself and your community, isolation and quarantine are two reliable ways to prevent the spread of a contagious disease, like COVID-19. Isolation and quarantine help keep people who are sick or have been exposed separate from people who have not been exposed.
Additional information and resources are available below.
Limit interaction with those around you. Stay in a separate room, like a bedroom, away from others in your home. Use a different bathroom if you can.
Wear a mask or cloth face covering. Make sure it covers your nose and mouth. Remember to stay 6 feet away from people and pets. People who are near you should also wear a mask or cloth face covering that covers their nose and mouth.
Use meal or grocery delivery services when possible or ask family and friends for help.
Clean and disinfect things you touch, like light switches, doorknobs, tables and remotes.
Wash your hands often. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you do not have soap and water, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Cover cough and sneezes. Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, then wash your hands.
Consider people living with you. If you live with someone with health conditions, think about whether there are other places you can stay while you get well.
Don’t leave home, unless you need medical care.
Don’t share personal items. Things like dishes, towels, and bedding should not be shared, even with family.
Don’t use public transportation, if you have another choice.
Isolation: When a person who is sick, is asked to stay home and limit interactions with others, even people they live with. This includes anyone who:
- Tests positive and has symptoms.
- Tests positive, but has no symptoms.
- Has symptoms, but has not been tested.
The local health department may call and require a person to isolate.
Quarantine: When a person who is not sick is told to stay home because they have been exposed to someone who is sick.
- If a person develops symptoms of COVID-19 during quarantine they should isolate and get tested.
We know isolating at home may be difficult. If you need assistance with things like food, shelter and healthcare, we want to get you the help you need.
- I need help finding community-based support and resources: Michigan 2-1-1 is available online or via telephone to help refer you to resources in your local community, like housing and financial assistance, including COVID-specific resources like meal delivery. Visit mi211.org or call 2-1-1 for immediate assistance.
- I need healthcare coverage, food assistance, child care support, or emergency financial support: Visit MI Bridges to apply for state benefits. In addition to benefits programs, MI Bridges also features more than 30,000 state and local services to help meet your needs.
- I need to find mental health support resources: Call 1-888-535-6136 and press "8" to talk to a Michigan Stay Well counselor. Or text “RESTORE” to 741741 to start a text conversation with a trained crisis counselor. Counseling is free, confidential and available 24/7. Visit michigan.gov/StayWell for more resources.
- I need to apply for unemployment benefits: If you can’t work while you are in quarantine or isolation, you may be eligible for unemployment assistance. Apply for unemployment assistance through the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.
- I need to find business assistance resources: Get the latest updates of COVID-19 resources for employees and employers from the MI Safe Start webpage.
- I am a senior and need assistance: The Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) offer services in every region so older adults can remain in their homes They offer services like meal delivery, home health care, counseling, and case management.
- I need help finding a Community Action Agency near me for community resources: The Network of Michigan Community Action Agencies (CAA) is a group of 28 agencies across Michigan that provide support in connecting low-income residents with resources in their community, such as food assistance, utility and rental assistance, employment counseling, and more. CAA’s have set up special COVID-19 support programs, including meal delivery, and boxes with hygiene and cleaning supplies.
- I need help finding a healthcare provider. Visit your local Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) which you can find at https://www.mpca.net/
- I need to know more about energy assistance and shutoff protections: Learn more about energy assistance and shut-off protections from the Michigan Public Service Commission.
Individuals who have been instructed to quarantine by the health department or a medical provider have the right to stay home from work to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Under federal legislation, most employees have the right to paid sick leave or unemployment assistance if they are told to quarantine by public health ?officials or a medical provider. Assistance is also available for those who cannot work because they are caring for someone who has been instructed to quarantine. There are several programs and protections listed below that you may be eligible for, depending on your circumstances:
- I need to apply for unemployment benefits: If you can’t work while you are in quarantine or isolation, you may be eligible for unemployment assistance. Apply for unemployment assistance through the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.
- I need to take medical leave from my job: If you’ve had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you’ve had close contact with someone who has symptoms of COVID-19, or you have one or more of the most common symptoms of COVID-19, you may be eligible for paid and/or unpaid medical leave with protection from losing your job or being disciplined under the Michigan Paid Medical Leave Act.
- I need to take a leave of absence from work: If you’re unable to work because you or someone you’re caring for is required to quarantine or isolate because of COVID-19, has been advised by a healthcare worker to self-quarantine because of concerns related to COVID-19, or has symptoms of COVID-19 and is seeking a medical diagnosis, you may be eligible for paid sick leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Paid Sick Leave Program.
Employment and COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
Additional details and programs can be found here: Benefits for Workers.
Access senior services like meal delivery, home health care, counseling, and case management.
Visit your local Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
Apply for state benefits including healthcare coverage, food assistance, child care support, and emergency financial support.
Access resources in your local community, like housing and financial assistance, including COVID-specific resources like meal delivery.
Learn more about energy assistance and shut-off protections.
Access free, confidential and readily available mental health counseling and resources.
Apply for unemployment assistance while in isolation or quarantine.
Get the latest updates of COVID-19 resources for employees and employers.
Connect to a community agency that helps you access local resources such as food assistance, utility and rental assistance, employment counseling, and more.