The CDC defines a close contact to COVID–19 as an individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to taking a test) until the time the patient is isolated. Brief interactions are less likely to result in transmission; however, symptoms and the type of interaction remain important. Factors to consider when defining close contacts may include, but are not limited to, the following:  

• The proximity of the case to possible contacts
• The duration of exposure (i.e. longer exposure time likely increases exposure risk)  
• The symptoms of the case at time of exposure (e.g., coughing likely increases exposure risk)
• Type of interaction and/or activities (e.g., infected person coughs or sneezes directly into the face of an individual, direct physical contact, or shared eating or drinking utensils
• The use of masks by both the case and possible contacts

Defining Close Contacts  

Players who test positive or are symptomatic close contacts to a case should self-isolate and not return to team events until the following criteria are met:

• 14 days since symptoms first appeared; and
• 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications

Players identified as close contacts to a COVID -19 case should not come to team events and take the following steps:  

• Stay home for 14 days after the last contact with a person who has COVID-19
• Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath or other symptoms of COVID-19
• If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19

It is important to note that players who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 and have met the criteria to be released from isolation do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms. The information provided is based on current CDC guidance and is intended to assist in the defining close contacts as part of the contact tracing efforts following the identification of a COVID-19 case.