Tracing

On February 28, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance indicating that universal case investigation and contact tracing for COVID-19 is no longer recommended. As a result of this guidance change, the NYC Test & Trace Corps ended the Trace program in April 2022. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will continue to perform case investigation and contact tracing in specific settings and groups at increased risk.

NYC Test & Trace would like to offer its deepest gratitude to our thousands of dedicated contact tracers and the millions of New Yorkers who answered their calls to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our city. Thank you for helping us all get through this unprecedented time!

While New Yorkers who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer receive calls from contact tracers providing isolation guidance and asking for their close contacts, the CDC and NYC Health Department continue to recommend that those who have COVID-19 separate themselves from others and notify their close contacts. All of the information you may need to assist you can be found on our COVID-19 Resources page.

In addition, if you test positive, you may receive a text from NYC Test & Trace to connect you with personalized isolation guidance and resources to support you, such as medical treatment and food assistance. Texts will come from 844-641-1568.

Notifying your close contacts

The end of contact tracing means that the city is relying on individual New Yorkers to inform their close contacts whom they may have exposed to the virus while infectious. For helpful suggestions on doing this, please see the CDC’s How To Talk To Your Close Contacts page.

Quarantine and Isolation Guidance

If you find out you were exposed to COVID-19, you will find quarantine guidance that fits your individual situation in the What to do if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 section of our COVID-19 Resources page.

If you test positive for COVID-19, please visit the What to do if you test positive for COVID-19 section to find the isolation guidance you need.

Whether you tested positive or were exposed, we highly recommend trying out our COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Guidance Tool to receive personalized guidance. After you answer a few short questions, the tool will let you know what guidance to follow, including when you can end quarantine or isolation based on the date you were exposed or tested positive, whether you have symptoms, your vaccination status and other details.

Another way to get individualized quarantine or isolation guidance is to call the NYC Test & Trace Corps Hotline at 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319). You can also get information on medical treatment and free resources to help you safely separate.