EXPLANATION: What to do if you test positive for COVID-19

NEW YORK – You have tested positive for COVID-19. Now what?

The short answer for those who live in the United States: stay home and avoid others. Tell people you have had close contact with that you have tested positive. And if you have trouble breathing or develop other serious symptoms, see a doctor right away.

COVID-19 diagnoses have skyrocketed since the recent arrival of the omicron variant. This means Americans need to be prepared for the possibility that they or someone they are considering seeing could suddenly be diagnosed with an infection.

ISOLATION

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people who test positive stay home or self-isolate for 10 days. If you live with other people, this means staying in a separate room and using a separate bathroom, if possible. You should also wear a mask if you come into contact with other people.

It is important to anticipate this possibility and be prepared to delay holiday gatherings, “so as not to make it up on the fly and cause a lot of confusion and unhappiness,” advised Dr William Schaffner, specialist in infectious diseases. at Vanderbilt University.

MONITOR FOR SYMPTMS

You should seek treatment if you develop worrying symptoms. But many people with certain conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and a weakened immune system, should seek medical help, even if they have a mild illness, because of their high risk of developing serious complications.

TELL OTHERS

You should tell your doctor about your test, who may prescribe medication depending on your situation and condition.

If you get tested in a clinic or doctor’s office, staff are supposed to notify health authorities of your positive result. Some health services conduct contact tracing surveys to identify people with whom an infected person has come in contact.

You should also let your close contacts know that you have tested positive and they may have been exposed to the coronavirus. Remember that an infected person can start spreading the virus up to two days before they develop symptoms or test positive.

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The Associated Press’s Department of Health and Science receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.