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If You Test Positive For Covid

If you, or a member of your household, has tested positive for Covid-19, how can you stop the spread?

Isolate the infected person from others, including those in the household whom they have recently been around.

Currently, there is a 50% chance that a person with Covid will pass it to another household member. The virus can be spread to another person for a minimum of 10 days after testing positive or developing symptoms.

The following people should get a Covid Test:

People who have symptoms of COVID-19.

People who have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.

A close contact is someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period* starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.

Close contacts should be tested on the 8th day after their last exposure to a Covid + person.

How to isolate from other household members:

  • Stay in a single room or area of a house to keep as much separation as possible from other family members.
  • If possible, use a separate bathroom. If you share a bathroom, use soap and water or disinfectant wipes to clean any surfaces you came in contact with after each use.
  • Don’t share household items, including dishes, glasses, utensils, towels or bedding. Any items used by a sick family member should be washed thoroughly.
  • Sanitize high-touch surfaces daily, like phones, doorknobs, keyboards, fridge door handles and bathroom fixtures.
  • Wear masks if you enter a shared space ie: shared bathroom.
  • Wash hands frequently.

When can isolation end?

A. If you had symptoms, you can be with others after:

1. At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared and

2. At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication and

3. Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving**Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.

If you had severe illness from COVID-19 (you were admitted to a hospital and needed oxygen), your healthcare provider may recommend that you stay in isolation for longer than 10 days after your symptoms first appeared (possibly up to 20 days) and you may need to finish your period of isolation at home.

B. If you have never had symptoms, you can be with others after:

1.10 days have passed since the date you had your positive test.

Should you get tested for Covid again?

If you have recovered from your symptoms after testing positive for COVID-19, you may continue to test positive for three months or more without being contagious to others. For this reason, you should be tested only if you develop new symptoms of possible COVID-19. Getting tested again should be discussed with your healthcare provider, especially if you have been in close contact with another person who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

Feel free to call PVP if you are concerned or have additional questions. We are here to help.

Additional information from the CDC can be found at:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronaviru...