Tested Positive. What Now?

 

Report a Positive Result

  • If you used a home test without a telehealth proctor, report your positive result using the Navica App. Instructions here.
    • If you are unable to report through the app, report using our online form. Click here.
    • If you cannot use the app or the online reporting form please call (937) 642-2053 to report a positive.
  • If you used a home test with a telehealth proctor to observe your test, positive results are automatically reported to our office 24-48 hours after your test.
  • If you tested at a healthcare facility, your result should be automatically reported to our office 24-48 hours after your test.

 Stay Home for at least 5 Days

  • Stay home for at least 5 days from when your symptoms began.
  • The day your symptoms start is day 0. If you do not have symptoms, day 0 is the day of your positive test. Stay home the next five days. Do not go to public places or visit others.
  • Continue to stay home if your symptoms are no better after 5 days -or- symptoms are worsening -or- if you have had a fever within the last 24 hours. Continue to stay home until you are significantly better and fever-free for 24 hours without taking a fever-reducing medicine. This may mean you need to stay home longer than 5 days. If you are still sick after 10 days, talk to a healthcare provider.
  • Try to separate to your own area of your home away from family members (including using a separate bedroom and bathroom) while isolating. To reduce the chance of spreading the virus to others within your home, wear a mask when around family members for a full 10 days from when symptoms stared (or date of positive test if you have no symptoms).
  • Do not travel.
  • Try to improve ventilation in your home (open windows, etc.).
  • If you are an older adult or a person at higher risk for severe disease, talk to your doctor right away about if COVID treatment options are right for you and watch for emergency symptoms.
  • A negative test is generally not required to return to activities.

 

Wear a Mask for 10 days

  • Wear a high-quality mask when around other members of your home while isolating for five days.
  • Wear a high-quality mask until 10 days have passed since your symptoms started (or positive test if no symptoms) while around other people (both at home and when you resume public activities after at least 5 days of isolating at home).
  • Return to activities without a mask on day 11 as long as fever hasn’t returned and symptoms have not worsened.
    • OR  if you have access to antigen tests, you should consider using them. With two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart, you may remove your mask sooner than day 10.
    • Note: If your antigen test results are positive, you may still be infectious. You should continue wearing a mask and wait at least 48 hours before taking another test. Continue taking antigen tests at least 48 hours apart until you have two sequential negative results. This may mean you need to continue wearing a mask and testing beyond day 10.

Some People May Need to Stay Home Longer than 5 days

  • People who have moderate illness (experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) should stay home for 10 days as they may be more likely to be infectious longer than people with mild illness.
  • People who are immunocompromised should stay home for 10 days as they may be more likely to be infectious longer than people who are not immunocompromised.
  • People who have severe illness and require hospital care should talk to their doctor or hospital team about when they can discontinue isolation and return to normal activities as they may be infectious longer than people with mild illness.

Restart Isolation if You Get Better and then Symptoms Worsen

After you have ended isolation, if your COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, restart your isolation at day 0. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about your symptoms or when to end isolation.

What About Others I was Around?

People like your household contacts, co-workers, friends or family who you were around when infectious should wear a mask for 10 days and watch for symptoms. They do not have to stay home, but should wear a mask and watch for symptoms. People who are positive for COVID are still encouraged to notify their loved ones, school, work or other people/organizations with whom they had close contact. When determining who you had close contact with, think about people you were within 6 feet of for 15 or more minutes during the two days before they had symptoms until you began isolation. This also includes people you may have had intimate contact with, shared eating utensils with, or other close physical contact with.

 

 

If you are contacted by a member of the Union County Health Department’s disease team and have any questions, please call our main line at (937) 642-2053.