When Should You Get Tested for COVID-19?
Tuesday, August 10th, 2021, 10:43 am
It’s been nearly a year and a half since the United States locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been many changes in testing guidelines throughout the pandemic, leading to confusion about when to get tested for the virus. Here, we’ll discuss the current guidelines for COVID-19 testing so that you can stay safe and informed in the current stage of the pandemic.
For People Who Are Fully Vaccinated
If you’re fully vaccinated for COVID-19, you should still get tested under a few different circumstances:
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested immediately.
- If you have close contact (within 6 feet for at least 10 minutes) with someone with an active COVID-19 infection, get tested three to five days afterward.
- If you travel internationally, get tested three to five days afterward.
For People Who Aren’t Fully Vaccinated
If you’re not fully vaccinated for COVID-19, you’ll also need to get tested if you have symptoms of the virus, are in close contact with someone with COVID-19, are going to a large event, are traveling, or have frequent in-person interactions.
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested immediately.
- If you have close contact with someone with COVID-19, get tested three to five days afterward.
- If you’re returning from travel, get tested three to five days after you arrive back home.
- If you’re going to a large event, get tested before you go and three to five days afterward.
- If you frequently interact with people in person, whether socially or at work, get tested periodically (i.e. monthly).
If you tested positive for COVID-19 within the last three months and recovered, you shouldn’t get re-tested for the virus for three months after the symptoms started (or after the day you got tested, if you were asymptomatic). In this situation, you may keep testing positive for COVID-19, even though you’re not contagious anymore.
For COVID-19 testing services, including rapid testing, visit Suncoast Urgent Care.
Category: COVID