What should I do when waiting for my test result?
Quarantine if:
- You have symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of your vaccination status; or
- You live with someone with COVID-19 and you need to quarantine based on vaccination and booster status; or you are not up-to-date on vaccine
- You have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and you need to quarantine based on vaccination and booster status; or
- You were told by a healthcare provider or a public health official to stay home
Think about the people you have recently been around so you can prepare to tell them if your test is positive. You can use VDH’s Notify Your Contacts to remember everyone you have been around. If your test is positive and the health department calls you, please answer the call.
Seek emergency medical care or call 9-1-1 if you experience any of the following:
trouble breathing, pain or pressure in the chest that won’t go away, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips or nail beds, depending on skin tone.
What do you do after you get a positive test result for COVID-19?
Isolation: This means you should stay home and away from others because you have COVID-19. If you cannot separate from others at home, you should wear a well-fitting mask.
- A positive viral test means you have COVID-19 and need to stay home and away from others (isolate) for at least 5 days. Day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the day you were tested if you never had symptoms.
- You can report a positive test through the COVIDWISE Exposure Notification app. This will send an anonymous notification to people you were in close contact with who also use the app.
When does isolation end:
If your test is positive and you have COVID-19 symptoms, you may end isolation (leave your home) after 5 days if these things have happened:
- At least 5 full days have passed since symptoms first appeared, and
- You are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, and
- Your other symptoms have improved. (Note that loss of taste and smell might persist for weeks or months and should not delay the end of isolation.)
If your test is positive and you never had COVID-19 symptoms, you can end isolation (leave your home) after at least 5 full days have passed since you were tested.
If you stop isolating after Day 5, continue to take these steps on Days 6-10:
- Wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public. If you cannot wear a mask around others, continue to isolate at home until Day 10.
- Avoid travel, avoid people who have weakened immune systems or who are at high risk for severe COVID-19, avoid places where you are unable to wear a mask, and avoid other people when you are eating.
What do you do after you get a negative test result for COVID-19?
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, continue to stay home and contact a healthcare provider for additional guidance. If you were exposed to COVID-19, you may need to stay home and should follow other precautions.