If you've been exposed, are sick, or are caring for someone with COVID-19
If you've been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or begin to experience symptoms of the disease, you may be asked to self-quarantine or self-isolate. What does that entail, and what can you do to prepare yourself for an extended stay at home? How soon after you're infected will you start to be contagious? And what can you do to prevent others in your household from getting sick?
Blog posts:
- Brain fog: Memory and attention after COVID-19
- Could COVID-19 infection be responsible for your depressed mood or anxiety?
- What is COVID-19 brain fog — and how can you clear it?
- The tragedy of the post-COVID "long haulers"
- The hidden long-term cognitive effects of COVID
- Which test is best for COVID-19?
- Allergies? Common cold? Flu? Or COVID-19?
Podcast:
You think you've got COVID-19. Here's what you need to do (recorded 4/10/20)
We asked Dr. Mallika Marshall, medical reporter for CBS-affiliate WBZ TV in Boston and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, how we should react when we start to experience a dry cough or perhaps spike a fever. Who do you call? How do you protect your family? When does it make sense to move toward an emergency department, and how should we prepare? Dr. Marshall is the host of Harvard Health Publishing's online course series, and an urgent care physician at Mass General Hospital.
Visit our Coronavirus Resource Center for more information on coronavirus and COVID-19.
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
How Long After Exposure to COVID-19 before you Test Positive for COVID?
Being exposed to COVID-19 can be a nerve-wracking experience. Not only are you not sure if you’ve caught the novel coronavirus and potentially exposed others, but you’re also wondering what you should do next.
Should you simply quarantine for two weeks? Should you venture out and get tested? And if you are going to get tested, how long after exposure should you wait to take a test for the most accurate result?
Don’t worry. We can help make sense of this difficult time for you.
How Long After Exposure to COVID to Get Tested?
For those who are fully vaccinated and showing no symptoms, there’s no need to get tested. You should monitor for symptoms, though, for 14 days after your exposure. If you’re not vaccinated or only partially vaccinated, though, your first step after learning of your exposure to COVID is to get tested immediately. This is where the timing of your exposure comes into play.
It can take a couple of days after exposure to COVID-19 to become infected with the virus. So, if you get tested 24 hours after exposure and the test comes back negative, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)recommends testing again five to seven days later, even if you’re not exhibiting any symptoms.
For your initial test, make sure it’s a viral or PCR test – not a Rapid Test. While viral tests take longer to obtain a test result, they are more accurate at the early stages of the virus.
Quarantine at home while you await your test result.
If your viral test comes back negative, you can take a Rapid Test five to seven days later. If that test result comes back negative and you aren’t exhibiting any symptoms, there’s a strong chance you’re in the clear. The CDC still recommends quarantining for 14 days to be on the safe side.
What to Do If My COVID Test Comes Back Positive
If your first test is positive, you need to self-isolate at home for 14 days, even if you’re not exhibiting any symptoms. During this time, follow all best practices to slow the spread:
- Remain in a closed room if you don’t live alone (you can open windows for fresh air).
- Wear a mask when using a shared bathroom at your home.
- Notify people you may have recently been in contact with.
If you develop
symptoms, make sure to receive any necessary medical care.
Get Tested for COVID Today
It’s important to get tested to slow the spread of the virus. If your exposure was more than 3 days ago, you can rely on a Rapid Test for the fastest test results.
For those living in New York, BioReference offers rapid testing with test results delivered in about 30 minutes. Schedule a test today.