QUESTION: I met a friend for coffee last week and now she has COVID. What do I do now? PS We didn’t wear masks.
ANSWER: You and your family need to be tested for COVID. The Families Coronavirus Response Act ensures that COVID tests are available without charge at health centers and selected pharmacies to anyone in the United States. Visit the health department website in your state to find the most convenient testing site in your neighborhood. Some testing sites can provide results within thirty minutes but may produce more false negatives. The standard PCR tests take at least one to two days to deliver results. Due to the high volume of testing, it can take a week or more to receive results. CDC guidelines indicate that it is best to wait five to six days after COVID exposure to get a nasal swab. Testing too early can produce a false negative.
After your first test, you and your family should quarantine for 7 days and then get another test. If that is negative, you are all safe. If it is positive, alert your doctor of your diagnosis. At home try to stay separate from the rest of the family and pets. Most experts recommend a 14-day quarantine after COVID exposure. If you start to experience severe symptoms including chest pain, fever over 103, and shortness of breath, call 911 for assistance.
