Difference Between Isolation and Quarantine

The main difference between isolation and quarantine is that isolation is the separation of ill people with a contagious disease from healthy people, but quarantine is the separation and restriction of the movement of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease.

Both isolation and quarantine are actions we take to prevent the spread of epidemic diseases. Both involve separating people who have been exposed to the disease from others. Although we often used these two words interchangeably, there is a distinct difference between isolation and quarantine.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Isolation 
     – Definition, Characteristics
2. What is Quarantine
     – Definition, Characteristics
3. What is the Difference Between Isolation and Quarantine
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Contagious Diseases, Isolation, Quarantine

What is Isolation

Figure 01: Illustration of an Isolation Unit for TB

Isolation is the separation of ill persons who have a contagious disease from those who are healthy. Isolation can actually prevent the spread of disease. Particularly, if the contagious disease has no vaccines or treatments, the best way to prevent the spread is by identifying everyone who has been infected with the virus and safely isolating them from others.

Medical professionals use special equipment in the management of patients in various forms of isolation. These most commonly include personal protective equipment like masks, gowns, and gloves, as well as and engineering controls like positive pressure rooms, negative pressure rooms, laminar airflow equipment, and various mechanical and structural barriers. Moreover, some health care facilities have isolation wards pre-built; for example, isolation rooms for patients suffering from infectious tuberculosis. However, in the case of a disease outbreak, it is necessary to temporarily build isolation units.

What is Quarantine

Quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people and goods, with the intent to prevent the spread of disease. We generally use the term quarantine with people who have been exposed to a contagious but have not been medically diagnosed. To be more specific, this involves separating and restricting the movement of seemingly healthy people who may have been exposed to an infectious disease to determine if they become sick. These people may have been unknowingly exposed to a disease, or they may not show symptoms even though they have already contracted the disease.

Furthermore, quarantines can help to limit the spread of contagious disease. In a quarantine, people who have been exposed to a communicable disease may be asked to stay at home or in a special place away from other people. Moreover, quarantines can target a few individuals or a mass crowd. For example, a few people who have travelled to a country where infectious disease is spreading or a large group of people like an entire body of students who have been exposed to a disease. It is generally the state that has the power to order mass quarantines.

Difference Between Isolation and Quarantine

Definition

Isolation is the separation of ill people with a contagious disease from healthy people, but quarantine is the separation and restriction of the movement of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease to determine if they become sick.

People Involved

Isolation involves patients who have been medically diagnosed as ill, but quarantine involves people who have been exposed to a contagious disease.

Location

Isolation happens at health care facilities, while quarantines can happen at home or other locations away from others.

Conclusion

In summary, both isolation and quarantine are two actions we take to prevent the spread of a contagious disease. Isolation is the separation of ill people with a contagious disease from healthy people. In contrast, quarantine is the separation and restriction of the movement of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease. Thus, this is the main difference between isolation and quarantine.

Reference:

1. “About Quarantine and Isolation.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Jan. 2020, Available here.
2. Resnick, Brian. “What Is ‘Social Distancing,” and How Can It Slow the Coronavirus Outbreak?” Vox, 3 Mar. 2020, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Tb ward” By USG – (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “4888839” (CC0) via Pixabay