If you test positive for COVID:
A positive result means the test detected the virus and you have COVID.
Stay home for at least 5 days from when your symptoms started, or from when your positive sample was taken if you don't have symptoms (stay home longer if you aren't feeling better, or if you've had a fever in the last 24 hours).
Please note: If your symptoms were moderate to severe (such as difficulty breathing), you were hospitalized for COVID, or you have a weakened immune system, please isolate for 10 days instead of 5 days. See the section on Quarantine & Isolation for more information, or see the CDC's guidance on isolation when you have COVID.
Tell people you have been in close contact with that they may have been exposed to COVID.
Consider retesting:
Please note: These retesting guidelines apply if you had no symptoms or mild symptoms that have improved. If your symptoms were moderate to severe, you were hospitalized for COVID, or you have a weakened immune system, please follow the CDC guidelines to stay home for 10 days.
After isolating at home for 5 full days, you can test yourself again on day 6 with an ANTIGEN test. First, make sure that your symptoms have improved AND you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever reducing medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Then, you should test. Do NOT use a PCR test for this purpose.
If the results is negative when you retest, you may leave home, but please wear a well-fitted mask when around other people for 5 more days. You should also avoid travel and avoid being around people who are at high risk for developing severe disease.
If your result is positive when you retest, you should stay home for 5 more days. At the end of the 5 additional days, you may leave your house if your symptoms have improved AND you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever reducing medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
This guidance applies whether you are vaccinated or not. This helps prevent you from spreading COVID to others.
When testing or retesting, please check with your employer regarding the kind of test they require if you are testing to leave/return to work.
If you test negative for COVID:
A negative results means test did not detect the virus, but it doesn’t rule out an infection.
If your result is negative, consider using another test kit to test yourself in 2 days. Multiple negative tests increase the confidence that you are not infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
If the result of your second test is positive, follow the guidance for people who test positive for COVID-19.