Interim guidance for implementing home care of people not requiring hospitalization for 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

Updated February 12, 2020This interim guidance is for staff at local and state health departments, infection prevention and control professionals, and healthcare personnel who are coordinating the home care and isolation1 of people with confirmed or suspected 2019-nCoV infection, including persons under investigation (see Criteria to Guide Evaluation of Persons Under Investigation (PUI) for 2019-nCoV). This includes patients evaluated in an outpatient setting who do not require hospitalization (i.e., patients who are medically stable and can receive care at home) or patients who are discharged home following a hospitalization with confirmed 2019-nCoV infection.In general, people should adhere to appropriate transmission-based isolation precautions until the risk of secondary transmission is thought to be low. Current information on 2019-nCoV is limited, thus home precautions should be conservative based on general recommendations for other coronaviruses, like Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and may last up to 14 days.This document does not apply to patients in healthcare settings. For interim healthcare infection prevention and control recommendations, see Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Known or Persons Under Investigation for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-NCoV) in a Healthcare Setting. CDC will update this interim guidance as needed and as more information becomes available.On February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19. CDC will be updating our website and other CDC materials to reflect the updated name.Assess the suitability of the residential setting for care at home -- Provide guidance for precautions to implement during care at home -- Additional Resources.2020738