Quarantine vs. Isolation — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 2, 2023
Quarantine is separating and restricting movement of healthy individuals who might have been exposed to a contagious disease, while Isolation is the separation of sick individuals from healthy ones to prevent spread.
Difference Between Quarantine and Isolation
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Quarantine refers to the act of keeping individuals who may have been exposed to a contagious illness away from others, even if they're not showing symptoms. Isolation, in contrast, specifically targets those who are already confirmed to be ill, separating them to prevent contagion.
The practice of Quarantine is often utilized when there's uncertainty about someone's health status, especially after contact with a known case or travel. Isolation comes into play when an individual is certain or highly likely to be infectious.
Quarantine often applies to broader groups of people, such as travelers from certain regions or close contacts of a confirmed case. Isolation is generally more individualized, focusing on confirmed cases of illness.
While both Quarantine and Isolation aim to prevent the spread of diseases, the key difference lies in the certainty of illness. Quarantine operates in the realm of potential infection, while Isolation deals with confirmed cases.
In many situations, a person may transition from Quarantine to Isolation. For instance, if someone in Quarantine starts showing symptoms and tests positive, they would then be moved to Isolation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Purpose
To monitor and prevent potential spread.
To separate confirmed sick individuals.
Applies to
Possibly exposed but not necessarily sick.
Confirmed or suspected to be sick.
Duration
Can vary, based on disease's incubation period.
Until the person is no longer contagious.
Setting
Often at home, designated facilities, or at borders.
Hospitals or at home, depending on illness severity.
Level of Certainty
Uncertain if individual is infected.
High likelihood or confirmation of infection.
Compare with Definitions
Quarantine
A restriction on the movement of people who might have been exposed to a contagious disease.
Due to her recent travel, she was put under Quarantine for 14 days.
Isolation
The act of separating sick individuals from the healthy.
The patient was put in Isolation due to the contagious nature of the illness.
Quarantine
A period of isolation to prevent potential spread of diseases.
The cruise ship underwent a 10-day Quarantine after an outbreak.
Isolation
A health strategy for containment of diseases.
The hospital has an Isolation ward for critical cases.
Quarantine
A measure to monitor health status after potential exposure.
After the event, attendees were asked to self-Quarantine.
Isolation
A confinement based on confirmed or suspected illness.
His symptoms led to immediate Isolation pending test results.
Quarantine
A confinement to ascertain the absence of contagious diseases.
Pets imported to certain countries may face a mandatory Quarantine.
Isolation
A measure to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Health protocols demanded the Isolation of confirmed cases.
Quarantine
A quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people, animals and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or pests. It is often used in connection to disease and illness, preventing the movement of those who may have been exposed to a communicable disease, yet do not have a confirmed medical diagnosis.
Isolation
The process of keeping an individual apart due to disease risk.
She experienced two weeks of Isolation after her diagnosis.
Quarantine
A condition, period of time, or place in which a person, animal, plant, vehicle, or amount of material suspected of carrying an infectious agent is kept in confinement or isolated in an effort to prevent disease from spreading.
Isolation
The act of isolating
Ordered the isolation of the sick patients.
Quarantine
An action resulting in such a condition
The government's quarantine of the animals.
Isolation
The quality or condition of being isolated
Isolation on a desert island.
Quarantine
An action to isolate another nation, such as a blockade of its ports or a severance of diplomatic or trade relations.
Isolation
The state of being isolated, detached, or separated; the state of being away from other people.
She lived her final year in complete isolation, not wanting to see anybody.
Quarantine
The condition of being isolated by such an action.
Isolation
The act of isolating.
Quarantine
(Computers) The isolation of data or data transmissions in order to keep viruses, worms, or other malware from infecting a computer or computer network.
Isolation
The state of not having diplomatic relations with other countries (either with most or all other countries, or with specified other countries).
Quarantine
To isolate in quarantine.
Isolation
(chemistry) The obtaining of an element from one of its compounds, or of a compound from a mixture
Quarantine
A period of 40 days, particularly
Isolation
(medicine) The separation of a patient, suffering from a contagious disease, from contact with others (compare: quarantine)
Upon returning from the field, he went into isolation for a week so as not to infect anyone with potential diseases.
Quarantine
The 40-day period during which a widow is entitled to remain in her deceased husband's home while any dower is collected and returned.
Isolation
(databases) A database property that determines when and how changes made in one transaction are visible to other concurrent transactions.
Quarantine
(historical) The 40-day period of isolation required after 1448 at Venice's lazaret to avoid renewed outbreaks of the bubonic plague and identical policies in other locations.
Isolation
(psychology) A Freudian defense mechanism in which a person suppresses a harmful thought from developing into a train of thought.
Quarantine
(historical) A 40-day period formerly imposed by the French king upon warring nobles during which they were forbidden from exacting revenge or continuing to fight.
Isolation
The act of isolating, or the state of being isolated; insulation; separation; loneliness.
Quarantine
A period, instance, or state of isolation from the general public or from native livestock and flora enacted to prevent the spread of any contagious disease.
The tourists were put in quarantine to ensure none of them would be able to spread the plague.
Isolation
A state of separation between persons or groups
Quarantine
(figurative) A similar period, instance, or state of rigidly enforced or self-enforced detention or isolation.
Isolation
The act of isolating something; setting something apart from others
Quarantine
A place where such isolation is enforced, a lazaret.
Isolation
A feeling of being disliked and alone
Quarantine
A blockade of trade, suspension of diplomatic relations, or other action whereby one country seeks to isolate another.
Isolation
Preference for seclusion or isolation
Quarantine
An isolation of one program, drive, computer, etc. from the rest of a computer network to limit the damage from a bug, computer virus, etc..
Isolation
(psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which memory of an unacceptable act or impulse is separated from the emotion originally associated with it
Quarantine
The program, drive, computer, etc. thus isolated.
Isolation
A country's withdrawal from internal politics;
He opposed a policy of American isolation
Quarantine
(transitive) To place into isolation to prevent the spread of any contagious disease.
Venice began quarantining incoming ships for 40 days in 1448 to prevent further outbreaks of bubonic plague.
Quarantine
Synonym of isolatemore generally.
Quarantine
Synonym of restrict.
Quarantine
To impose a quarantine, to establish quarantine regulations.
Quarantine
(intransitive) To enter or stay in quarantine, particularly to self-quarantine to avoid an epidemic disease.
International travelers must quarantine themselves at their own expense in a designated hotel for 14 days upon arrival.
Quarantine
Alternative case form of Quarantine: the Mount of Temptation where Jesus Christ supposedly fasted for 40 days, Jebel Quruntul near Jericho.
Quarantine
A space of forty days; - used of Lent.
Quarantine
Specifically, the term, originally of forty days, during which a ship arriving in port, and suspected of being infected a malignant contagious disease, is obliged to forbear all intercourse with the shore; hence, such restraint or inhibition of intercourse; also, the place where infected or prohibited vessels are stationed.
Quarantine
The period of forty days during which the widow had the privilege of remaining in the mansion house of which her husband died seized.
Quarantine
To compel to remain at a distance, or in a given place, without intercourse, when suspected of having contagious disease; to put under, or in, quarantine.
Quarantine
Enforced isolation of patients suffering from a contagious disease in order to prevent the spread of disease
Quarantine
Isolation to prevent the spread of infectious disease
Quarantine
Place into enforced isolation, as for medical reasons;
My dog was quarantined before he could live in England
Quarantine
A preventive protocol in public health responses.
The city imposed a Quarantine on incoming flights from the affected region.
Common Curiosities
Can a person be in Quarantine without being sick?
Yes, Quarantine often involves healthy individuals who might have been exposed to an illness.
Is Isolation always in a hospital setting?
No, Isolation can be in hospitals or at home, depending on the severity of the illness.
Is Isolation only for those with confirmed illnesses?
Isolation is mainly for those confirmed or highly suspected to be ill to prevent transmission.
Are there penalties for breaking Quarantine or Isolation protocols?
Many jurisdictions impose penalties for not adhering to Quarantine or Isolation directives.
Can Quarantine be used for non-human entities?
Yes, items, animals, or goods can be put under Quarantine to ensure they're not carrying diseases.
Are Quarantine durations always fixed?
Quarantine durations can vary, often based on the incubation period of a disease.
Is Isolation stricter than Quarantine?
Typically, yes. Isolation involves stricter measures since it deals with confirmed cases.
Is Isolation a long-term procedure?
Isolation lasts as long as an individual is contagious, which varies depending on the illness.
What's the main purpose of Quarantine?
Quarantine aims to prevent potentially exposed individuals from spreading a disease, even if they feel well.
Can both Quarantine and Isolation happen at home?
Yes, both can occur at home, but the specifics depend on health guidelines and the nature of the disease.
If someone in Quarantine gets sick, do they shift to Isolation?
Yes, if a person in Quarantine shows symptoms and tests positive, they usually move to Isolation.
Do Quarantine and Isolation apply only to viral diseases?
While commonly associated with viruses, Quarantine and Isolation can apply to bacterial or other contagious diseases too.
Who decides the need for Quarantine or Isolation?
Health officials or medical professionals typically determine the need for Quarantine or Isolation.
Can vaccination exempt one from Quarantine?
Depending on health guidelines, vaccination can sometimes reduce or eliminate Quarantine requirements.
Can travel lead to Quarantine?
Yes, traveling from areas with outbreaks often results in Quarantine protocols.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Notice vs. Advertisement
Next Comparison
Persistent vs. RelentlessAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
