Isolation and Quarantine

Training Overview

  • Audience: Public health agencies and personnel at the state and local level
  • Format: Online, self-paced
  • Price: Free
  • Length: 2 hours
  • Contact hours: Massachusetts CHO, RS, RN
  • Competencies: Basic Public Health Sciences, Health Education
  • Learning level: Awareness
  • Prerequisites: None
  • Companion training:Surveillance of Infectious Diseases
  • Supplemental materials:

Isolation, quarantine, and social distancing are three different, but related, public health measures that are used to stop or minimize the spread of disease. These measures are part of a larger public health infectious disease surveillance system. When an infected person, small group of people, or an outbreak is identified by a laboratory or health care provider, it is then reported to the state health department or local board of health (LBOH). An epidemiological investigation will determine which public health measures should be implemented. This training will focus primarily on LBOH isolation and quarantine measures and will also include information about other measures to control infectious diseases (i.e., social distancing, vaccination, prophylaxis, closure of an establishment, personal and environmental hygiene, and education).

Enroll To receive a certificate of completion. This requires registration to establish a learner profile and completion of pre- and post-tests
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What you’ll learn

After completing this training, you will be able to:

  • Distinguish among isolation, quarantine, and social distancing
  • Summarize historical public health events that led to the creation of our current public health laws and practices
  • List the requirements of 105 CMR 300.000 for infectious diseases investigated by LBOH
  • Explain how to obtain voluntary compliance with isolation and quarantine requirements
  • Describe the administrative process required for LBOH to implement isolation and quarantine with noncompliant individuals

Subject Matter Experts


  • Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Disclaimer

This training was supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) with funds made available by the Cooperative Agreement Number TP921913, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.
This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP27877 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program.”This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government..