Quarantine is the restriction of movement or isolation of persons who have been exposed to a contagious disease, but it is not yet known whether they will become ill. Quarantine may be applied at the individual level, or to a group of people. It can be triggered by public health officials when they have reasonable grounds to believe that a person has a communicable disease, or by a doctor who examines a patient with suspected symptoms of an infectious disease. People under quarantine are separated from other people and provided with care and essential services. They are also given a reasonable opportunity to explain their reason for refusing to be quarantined and have their rights respected.
Studies suggest that the period of quarantine has a negative psychological impact on the mental wellbeing of people, particularly those who are not able to work or do not have access to income during their quarantine. This has a direct impact on their financial situation and can result in stress and tension within the family. Moreover, it can cause social distancing with other people and lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, which could be aggravated by the limited time for interaction with children. Considering these factors, it is important to improve the psychosocial support for people who are under quarantine. This could include training for health care professionals to understand and address the psychological impacts of quarantine, as well as tailored interventions based on socio-ecological theory.