Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology.ContagiousHow to say it:Contagious(con-TAY-juss)What it means: A disease that can spread between people.Where it comes from: Latin,contāgiō,“contact”Brandon Nickerson/PexelsWhere you might see or hear it: If you have been exposed to someone with an infectious disease likeCOVID-19, your provider will want you toget tested. If youtest positive, you could spread the infection to others—that is, you’recontagious.When you might want to use it: If youtest positive for COVID, you will need to tell your loved ones and any other close contacts (like the people you work with). You can explain that until you areno longer able to spread the infection, you’ll need to avoid being near them.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you’ll need tostay home for at least 5 daysafter you test positive for COVID.After that, it’s less likely that you’ll be able to get other people sick. However, it’s still helpful towear a maskaround others and practice social distancing.What You Need to Know About CDC’s Updated COVID-19 Quarantine Guidelines
Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology.
Contagious
How to say it:Contagious(con-TAY-juss)
What it means: A disease that can spread between people.
Where it comes from: Latin,contāgiō,“contact”
Brandon Nickerson/Pexels
Where you might see or hear it: If you have been exposed to someone with an infectious disease likeCOVID-19, your provider will want you toget tested. If youtest positive, you could spread the infection to others—that is, you’recontagious.
When you might want to use it: If youtest positive for COVID, you will need to tell your loved ones and any other close contacts (like the people you work with). You can explain that until you areno longer able to spread the infection, you’ll need to avoid being near them.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you’ll need tostay home for at least 5 daysafter you test positive for COVID.
After that, it’s less likely that you’ll be able to get other people sick. However, it’s still helpful towear a maskaround others and practice social distancing.
What You Need to Know About CDC’s Updated COVID-19 Quarantine Guidelines
SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster.Definition of contagious.
Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster.Definition of contagious.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Merriam-Webster.Definition of contagious.
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