November 4, 2020

If I Live With Someone Who Has COVID-19, Am I Bound to Get It Too?

The short answer from a family medicine physician

Woman taking her child's temperature.

Q: My roommate tested positive for COVID-19. Does that mean I will get the virus too?

A: It’s not 100% guaranteed that just because one person in the household gets the virus that everybody else is going to. That doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t happen, but it’s not universal that everybody is going to get sick when COVID-19 is in your house.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

However I do think it comes down to basic conscientiousness. I think people who are observing appropriate protection measures outside of their home are also probably doing the same at home, especially if someone is already sick. These are things like washing your hands, wearing a mask and being aware of physical distance (like not talking right in someone’s face). It’s also important to clean high-touch surfaces with disinfectants and limit physical (not emotional) interaction with the person who is sick.

If somebody in your house does test positive for the virus, we encourage them to stay in a separate room and use a different bathroom if they can, but we also know that not everybody’s household is set up for that. In those cases, do your best to stay away from the person who is sick and everyone should wear a face mask when they interact.

It’s also worth noting that if someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19 (or is suspected to have it), to make sure that vulnerable and high-risk house members avoid caring for whoever is sick. Everyone in the home should also quarantine (even if you don’t have symptoms) to avoid spreading the virus to school, work or the store.

Advertisement

— Family medicine physician Donald Ford, MD, MBA.

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

aerial view over crowd of commuters
March 18, 2024
How Does COVID Immunity Work?

The short answer: It’s complicated, but the basic care precautions still prevail, like washing your hands and isolating if you’re sick

Person experiencing COVID headache, with calendar months floating in background
March 11, 2024
What To Know About COVID Headaches

They can feel like a typical headache or a migraine headache, but the pain can last for weeks to months

crowd of people at music concert
February 5, 2024
What Constitutes a ‘Superspreader Event’?

Any large social gathering — from a family birthday party to an indoor music concert — has the potential to spread serious infection

Female wrapped in blanket laying on sofa looking fatigued or unwell
January 23, 2024
How To Manage COVID Fatigue and Regain Your Energy

It’s important to connect with a healthcare provider, get quality sleep and balance your activities with your energy levels

Sick person on couch using tissue on nose with medication bottles on coffee table
January 19, 2024
How To Know if It’s COVID-19, a Cold or Allergies

Symptoms can overlap and be hard to distinguish, but there are some telltale differences

Close-up of hands in lab gloves sorting vials and covid-19 blood sample
January 17, 2024
Everything You Need To Know About COVID-19 Variants

Just like the flu, COVID-19 will continue to evolve every year

Adult female on couch, coughing into crook of arm, holding thermometer
January 15, 2024
Prepping for Flurona: When COVID-19 and the Flu Strike at the Same Time

It’s best to treat flu-like symptoms as if you have COVID-19

positive COVID test with COVID virus molecules floating around it
December 20, 2023
How Long Does COVID-19 Last if You’re Vaccinated?

The duration varies, but symptoms can linger for a few days up to a couple weeks or more

Trending Topics

Person in yellow tshirt and blue jeans relaxing on green couch in living room reading texts on their phone.
Here’s How Many Calories You Naturally Burn in a Day

Your metabolism may torch 1,300 to 2,000 calories daily with no activity

person getting a sinus massage between brows
5 Sinus Massage Techniques To Relieve Pressure and Promote Drainage

A gentle touch in all the right places may help drain your sinuses

woman snacking on raisins and nuts
52 Foods High In Iron

Pump up your iron intake with foods like tuna, tofu and turkey

Ad