Originally published on July 15, 2020 in https://cityofhideaway.org/docs-corner/f/you-got-tested-for-covid-19-now-what
Once you make the decision to get tested, please isolate yourself at home until you get your results back. Depending on where you got tested, and what type of test was used to check for active coronavirus infection (a.k.a. COVID-19), you may get your test results back in an hour or it may take several days if you’re in a hot spot with a backlog of tests.
Until you get your results back, behave like you might be positive for the virus and could expose others to it. Please stay home. If your test result is negative, then please read the section “If you test negative for COVID-19” by clicking on the link below https://cityofhideaway.org/docs-corner/f/covid-19-viral-testing-info
If your test result is positive, you may get an email, text or call from the lab or directly from NET Health (the North East Texas Public Health District) if you went to a free testing site that was operated by the Texas Division of Emergency Management. If you went to a private lab or to a local clinic, they report the positive test result to you and to NET Health. You may get asked by the testing lab to isolate yourself according to CDC’s recommendations and inform all your close contacts. If this happens to you, then here are some guidelines to help you do the right thing to reduce further spread of the virus:
● Call your doctor immediately and follow their directions for medical care.
● Isolate yourself at home until at least 72 hours have passed since recovery, which is defined as (A) no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen, (B) improvement in respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath AND (C) at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. All three of those situations must occur before you are officially considered to be recovered from COVID-19.
● If you tested positive during a testing drive but never had any symptoms (a.k.a. being asymptomatic), then isolate yourself for 14 days.
● Make a list of people that came into close contact with you in the 2 days prior to your symptoms of your testing day if you had no symptoms. These are not people you passed by at the golf course or said hi to at the grocery store. These are people that were CLOSER than 6 feet from you for AT LEAST 15 minutes. If you choose to inform your close contacts before NET Health calls you, then here is a link to the CDC close contact information that you can share with them: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/contact-tracing.html
- Testing is recommended for ALL your close contacts.
- Those contacts who test positive should be managed as a positive case
- Contacts who test negative should self-quarantine for 14 days from their last close encounter with you and monitor for symptoms.
- Those who simply had casual contact with you do not need to quarantine themselves but need to continue to wash hands, use face coverings, and social distance.
NET Health has their own contact tracing program and will connect with you once they are notified by the lab of your positive result.
Do not despair if you test positive. Follow your doctor’s advice and seek prompt care for worsening symptoms. Go to the ER if you have any life threatening symptoms like shortness of breath or confusion. Remember that while most people have mild symptoms and recover without any complications, some individuals may develop severe symptoms that require hospitalization. COVID-19 may not affect you in the same way it may affect someone else. Continue to encourage your family and friends to wash, distance, and mask.
Sue Royappa, MD, MPH