{"id":22959,"date":"2020-04-10T13:33:47","date_gmt":"2020-04-10T17:33:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/?p=22959"},"modified":"2020-04-10T13:37:25","modified_gmt":"2020-04-10T17:37:25","slug":"quarantine-isolation-stay-at-home-orders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/quarantine-isolation-stay-at-home-orders\/","title":{"rendered":"Quarantine, Isolation and Stay at Home Orders: What These Terms Mean and Why They\u2019re Different"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"quarantine

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought us a new vocabulary with terms like quarantine, isolation, stay at home, and more now becoming part of our everyday language. However,\u00a0they’re often interchanged, which can cause confusion. Here’s why it’s important to know the differences.<\/p><\/div>\n

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought us a new vocabulary with terms like quarantine, isolation, stay at home, shelter in place, and more now becoming part of our everyday language.<\/p>\n

While each of these terms has a specific \u2013 and often legal \u2013 meaning,\u00a0 they are frequently interchanged, which can cause confusion.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll break down what each of these words and phrases mean and why it\u2019s important to understand the differences.<\/p>\n

Quarantine<\/h2>\n

If someone may have been exposed to the coronavirus, they will likely be asked to quarantine at home to restrict their movements and limit the spread of the virus through contact. You could appear to be healthy and still be asked or ordered to quarantine because you recently traveled or had been in contact with a person known to be infected.<\/p>\n

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:<\/p>\n

Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Someone in self-quarantine stays separated from others, and they limit movement outside of their home or current place. A person may have been exposed to the virus without knowing it (for example, when traveling or out in the community), or they could have the virus without feeling symptoms. Quarantine helps limit further spread of COVID-19.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When you\u2019re quarantined, you stay at home and remain at least six feet away from others in your household. Don\u2019t share items like towels and utensils, wear a face mask when around others and try to use a separate bathroom.<\/p>\n

For this health crisis, a quarantine could last 14 days. Those who don\u2019t test positive for the virus after their quarantine may no longer need to be in a contained environment.<\/p>\n

You may be advised by a health care professional to self-quarantine due to coronavirus concerns.<\/p>\n

Some states have ordered individuals to self-quarantine if they arrive from a different state. For example, in Rhode Island, anyone (with a few exceptions) arriving by plane or from New York by car, train or bus must self-quarantine for 14 days. In Hawaii, anyone arriving in the state \u2013 whether there are visitors or returning residents \u2013 are required to self-quarantine for 14 days.<\/p>\n

Why is this important?<\/h3>\n

If you can\u2019t go to work because a health care professional advised you to self-quarantine or you need to be quarantined by a federal, state or local order, you may be eligible for paid sick leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also, you could receive paid leave if you\u2019re caring for someone who is quarantined by the direction of a health care professional or subject to quarantine or isolation by a federal, state or local order.<\/p>\n

Isolation<\/h2>\n

Isolation is like a quarantine but is for people who actually have been infected with the virus or may be showing symptoms and haven\u2019t been tested yet. It serves the same purpose as a quarantine \u2013 to keep sick people away from those who are healthy.<\/p>\n

As with a quarantine, those in isolation should keep away from other people as much as possible and follow similar guidelines for shared items and other precautions.<\/p>\n

According to the CDC:<\/p>\n

Isolation is used to separate sick people from healthy people. People who are in isolation should stay home. In the home, anyone sick should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific \u201csick\u201d bedroom or space and using a different bathroom (if possible).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A health professional may recommend isolation if the person isn\u2019t suffering from symptoms serious enough to require hospitalization.<\/p>\n

This is a helpful fact sheet from the CDC (PDF)<\/a> on actions to take when in isolation.<\/p>\n

Why is this important?<\/h3>\n

As with a quarantine, if you can\u2019t go to work because you\u2019re sick or symptomatic and being isolated, you may be eligible for paid sick leave under FFCRA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also, you could receive paid leave if you\u2019re caring for someone who is sick or symptomatic and being isolated.<\/p>\n

Stay at home\/Shelter in place orders<\/h2>\n

Although they have distinct meanings, \u201cshelter in place\u201d and \u201cstay at home\u201d have been used interchangeably during this health crisis.<\/p>\n

Millions of people in more than 40 states have been ordered to \u201cstay at home.\u201d That means they should stay at home as much as possible leaving only for food, gas, and other essentials or for medical reasons. You can go out for a walk or be outside but you should keep six feet apart from others.<\/p>\n

A \u201cstay-at-home\u201d order could last weeks and be extended as needed.<\/p>\n

A \u201cshelter in place\u201d order, on the other hand, is typically used for short-term situations when people are asked to stay indoors until authorities say that it\u2019s safe. They might be issued if there is a chemical or radiological event, an active shooter, or natural threats like a tornado. Sometimes a \u201cshelter-in-place\u201d order is called a lockdown especially when it\u2019s for an active shooter.<\/p>\n

Under a \u201cstay-at-home\u201d order, many nonessential businesses, like retail stores, gyms, bars, and movie theaters, are required to be closed. Essential businesses including take-out restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and health care providers remain open. Public transportation also remains open.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay-at-home\u201d orders vary by state and local jurisdiction<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At this time, the states without<\/strong><\/em> \u201cstay-at-home\u201d directives include Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.<\/p>\n

Why is this important?<\/h3>\n

A \u201cstay-at-home\u201d order is not the same as a quarantine or being in isolation.<\/p>\n

Unlike a quarantine or isolation, a \u201cstay-at-home\u201d order doesn\u2019t necessarily qualify<\/strong><\/em> you for paid sick or family leave. Many healthy people are under \u201cstay-at-home\u201d directives.<\/p>\n

You may not be able to go to work \u2013 or have your hours reduced \u2013 under a \u201cstay-at-home\u201d order. In this case, you could apply for unemployment benefits<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Essential employees<\/h2>\n

As mentioned, some services are deemed \u201cessential\u201d and will remain available during a \u201cstay-at-home\u201d order. Employees can also be considered \u201cessential.\u201d These workers may include doctors, first responders, those who work for essential businesses, and others.<\/p>\n

Why is this important?<\/h3>\n

An in-home childcare provider for a family whose parent(s) are\/is considered essential and must go to jobs outside of their home (like doctors, nurses, and police officers) may still be able to report for work<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Even if you aren\u2019t considered essential, childcare services may be considered essential<\/a>. In this case, a nanny could be caring for children while the parents are working from home.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to check your state\u2019s \u201cstay-at-home\u201d directive to understand what is and isn\u2019t considered essential and if your employee can work in your home.<\/p>\n

GTM can help<\/h2>\n

If you’re a client of GTM Payroll Services and need further assistance on the benefits available to you and your employee, call (800) 929-9213 and talk with our client support team. Not a GTM client? Get a free, no-obligation consultation with a household employment expert and see how GTM can make household payroll and taxes easy for you including how to get tax credits through the FFCRA.<\/p>\n

Download The Complete Guide to Household Payroll<\/h2>\n

Get our complimentary guide and learn everything you need to know about paying your employees legally and filing your taxes the right way.
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