I’m a Doctor and if You Did This Recently, Get a Covid Test

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By Ghuman

Introduction

Hello everyone! I’m a doctor and I’m here to talk to you about the importance of getting a Covid-19 test if you have recently done something that could have put you at risk of contracting the virus. As we all know, Covid-19 is a highly contagious virus that has been spreading rapidly throughout the world. It is important to get tested if you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus, or if you have been in a high-risk area. Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have the virus, and it is the best way to protect yourself and those around you.

I’m a Doctor and if You Did This Recently, Get a Covid Test

As a doctor, I’m here to tell you that if you’ve done any of the following activities recently, you should get a Covid test:

  • Traveled internationally
  • Attended a large gathering
  • Been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19
  • Been in an area with high rates of Covid-19

Getting tested for Covid-19 is the best way to know if you have the virus. It’s important to get tested as soon as possible if you think you may have been exposed to the virus. Early detection can help prevent the spread of the virus and can help you get the treatment you need.

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should also get tested for Covid-19:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of taste or smell

If you think you may have been exposed to Covid-19, it’s important to get tested as soon as possible. Early detection can help prevent the spread of the virus and can help you get the treatment you need.

If you have any questions or concerns about Covid-19, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor.

When ought to you’ve got a COVID check? In the present day? Tomorrow? Or ought to you’ve got had one final week?  As a health care provider, even I agree all of it appears very complicated proper now. Simply do not forget that 80% of individuals with COVID-19 an infection have very gentle, or no signs in any respect. Plus, contaminated individuals are most infectious within the few days earlier than they develop signs. That is how the virus is spreading locally. Every particular person may have the an infection and don’t know they’ve it. The virus is really a sneaky blighter! Learn on to seek out out when it’s best to take a check, and to make sure your well being and the well being of others, do not miss these Positive Indicators You’ve got Already Had Coronavirus.

Staff testing a driver for coronavirus
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Why get examined in any respect? If you realize you’ve got COVID-19, you’ll be able to take steps to care correctly for your self, quarantine, forestall the unfold to your family and friends, and do your bit in your neighborhood and your nation. 

Being examined, getting immediate outcomes, and following the proper recommendation about your check outcomes, is a game-changer in controlling the unfold of the virus. Do it proper—and the virus is stopped in its tracks. Get it improper—and worst-case situation, you, or somebody near you, may die.

Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, CMO for the American Coronary heart Affiliation,  wrote a really persuasive weblog submit in regards to the significance of COVID testing. That is the one technique to detect instances early and permit individuals to them quarantine to forestall them from spreading the virus to different individuals. It is also necessary for public well being groups to know the degrees of virus locally to have the ability to plan and take motion to assist others.

Nurse holding test tube with blood for 2019-nCoV analyzing. Novel Coronavirus blood test
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Here is the issue—it is clearly inconceivable to check everybody, on a regular basis.

Here is the answer —it’s essential to acknowledge when you’ve been in danger. As soon as you realize these conditions, you realize when to go and get a COVID check.  Even when you do not have signs, in case you have been or end up, in a high-risk state of affairs, you have to be examined for COVID,  as a precaution. Learn on and see. Under is an inventory of conditions that imply it’s best to have a COVID check.

(Take word that by having a COVID check, I imply having an antigen check, which exams for the presence or absence of the virus on the time limit that the check is taken. That is totally different from an antibody check, which is on the lookout for an antibody response to say whether or not you’ve got had the an infection up to now.)

A woman who touches the soles.
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Have you ever not too long ago developed a fever or began coughing?  These are essentially the most widespread signs of COVID an infection, usually linked with excessive tiredness. Different much less widespread COVID signs embody complications, muscle pains, sore throat, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, a lack of sense of style or scent, and a pores and skin rash, or discolored areas in your fingers and toes—a.okay.a. “COVID toes.”

In case you have acute extreme COVID, you might be prone to really feel very unwell, you might have chest ache, and breathlessness. If that is so, you have to not anticipate a COVID check however get pressing assist instantly.

Two young female friends chatting over coffee in cafe.
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You have to be examined in case you have been in shut contact with anybody who has not too long ago examined COVID optimistic. “Shut contact” means when you have been inside six toes of anybody who has not too long ago examined optimistic, for 15-minutes or extra—even when you have been sporting a masks.

When you are ready for the COVID check outcomes, it’s essential to quarantine. This implies staying at residence for 14 days because you final had contact with the contaminated particular person. 

You have to be examined as quickly as you notice this has occurred, nonetheless, a detrimental check a number of days into your quarantine interval doesn’t assure you aren’t contaminated. You need to proceed to quarantine till the complete 14 days are over and retest at any level when you develop signs or really feel unwell. 

In the event you stay with somebody who has examined optimistic, the contaminated particular person must isolate so far as is feasible. They need to keep in their very own bed room, use their very own rest room the place doable and be introduced meals to their bed room moderately than share the usage of the kitchen.

Your personal quarantine interval could also be even longer than theirs when you stay with the contaminated particular person, and you can’t keep away from shut contact. On this case, you your self, ought to proceed to quarantine till 14 days after the opposite particular person has met the factors to finish their isolation.

When to quarantine is clearly laid out on the CDC web site.

It is a shock to seek out out you might have been in touch with COVID and should keep at residence for 14 days – and even longer. And costly, when you lose 2 weeks or extra wages. The message simply must be that proper now, your finest chances are high to remain residence when you’ll be able to and keep secure. Keep away from any pointless journeys, visits, or conferences. Please, please put on a masks! Wash your palms and maintain your distance always.

Female doctor in mask making notes in medical card while talking to patient at hospital
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If if you find yourself doing all of your job, you might be in shut contact with the general public or working for instance, in a medical setting the place virus numbers are prone to be excessive, or you might be merely uncovered each day to giant numbers of individuals—get a COVID check, even in case you have no signs. 

These jobs embody:

  • Well being employees, in any medical or surgical settings
  • Aged care employees or caring for anybody with a incapacity
  • Staff throughout the emergency providers
  • Staff inside grownup or little one safety providers
  • Staff in a correctional unit, or jail service
  • Staff with the terminally ailing, or dying, or in a hospice
  • First responders—Police, paramedics, and fire-fighters
  • Regulation enforcement officers—Police, investigators, inspectors, transport police and so forth …
  • In the event you stay or work in a long-term care facility

Different jobs which imply frequent contact with the general public and are important for our infrastructure are additionally on the listing.  You need to have a COVID check when you work in

  • Retail or manufacturing
  • The agricultural sector, or in meals manufacturing
  • Public transport
  • Schooling
  • Utilities
  • Truck driving/supply driver
  • Vets and people working within the animal care business

These lists aren’t exhaustive. Use your widespread sense and if you’re working in any crowded, face-to-face, or dangerous surroundings, go and get a check.

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This ought to be performed as shut as doable to the date of the admission/process—often about 3 days earlier than. You need to know the result’s detrimental earlier than you arrive on the premises. After discharge, it’s smart to be examined, to make sure you didn’t choose up extra in hospital than you supposed.

RELATED: 7 Facet Results of Carrying a Face Masks

carolina hurricanes hockey stadium
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In the event you attended any occasions the place there giant crowds of individuals, contemplate having a check, for instance, a mass rally or a big sporting occasion.  These are well-known to be “super-spreader” occasions.

The BBC reported in September within the UK, that 300 followers had not too long ago examined optimistic after attending a charity soccer match in Burnside, within the North East of England. Everybody who attended the match was then requested to quarantine for 14 days.

Probably the most well-known tremendous spreader occasion was the White Home Rose Backyard occasion on 26h September, at which 14 individuals turned contaminated.

Twenty-eight members in complete of the White Home administration have now been contaminated

In case you have attended any giant occasions up to now 14 days, even when you adopted all the principles on hygiene, social distancing and mask-wearing, it’s best to have a COVID check.

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Are you having chemotherapy? On steroids? Taking anti-rejection medicine? Do you’ve got any continual medical circumstances which make you extra prone to COVID or have a weakened immune system?  Otherwise you is perhaps weak for instance if you’re homeless, or residing in poverty, or in crowded circumstances. In these conditions, it’s best to have a low threshold for getting examined. In the event you grow to be contaminated, you might be additionally the next danger for a poor consequence.

Virus mask woman travel wearing face protection in prevention for coronavirus at airport.
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Travelling is the next danger exercise for COVID-19 as a result of it means visiting the airport, mixing with crowds, standing in queues, respiration filtered air, and sitting near others on the plane. You may additionally have visited an space the place the speed of COVID an infection is excessive. There’s a danger you would grow to be contaminated and convey the virus residence with you.

The CDC recommends you’ve got a COVID check in case you have been travelling and have been concerned in ‘larger danger actions’. This ought to be taken 3-5 days after you arrive residence, and also you keep ought to at residence for 7 days after your return.  Even when the check is detrimental, it’s best to nonetheless keep at residence for 7 days. If you do not have a COVID check, it’s best to keep at residence for 14 days.

Greater danger actions are listed as –

  • Any journey from a rustic, or a US territory,  the CDC has given a stage 2,3, or 3 travel- well being warning.
  • In the event you attended a mass gathering corresponding to a marriage, a big celebration, or a funeral, or a big sporting occasion.
  • In the event you visited, bars, golf equipment, eating places, and leisure venues corresponding to evening golf equipment, film theatres or cinemas.
  • In the event you used public transport.
  • In the event you have been travelling on a ship or taking a cruise.
Medical worker in protective suite taking a swab for corona virus test, potentially infected young woman
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You may go to your state and territorial web sites right here.

RELATED: COVID Signs Normally Seem in This Order, Research Finds

Young caucasian woman wearing surgical gloves putting face mask on, protection from spread of Coronavirus
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Do not suppose that simply because a vaccine is on its method, we will neglect any of this. It is going to be many months earlier than the vaccine has been distributed and the results are seen. If we do not comply with the principles, many extra individuals will grow to be contaminated and really sadly, a few of these will die or undergo the distress of “lengthy COVID”—a post-COVID Syndrome that may smash your life, which might have an effect on as much as 30% of people that get COVID.

It sounds repetitive, and I remind myself of it each day—put on a masks, wash your palms, and maintain your distance. We will additionally add to that listing, and get examined! My masks is in a plastic bag in my coat pocket, my hand gel sits in a pot beside the entrance door, and one other tube lives in my shoulder bag. Plus, on my telephone are the main points of my nearest testing heart.

Stay suspicious of the virus—and do not let that sneaky blighter slip move undetected!

Is it time you had a COVID check?

Dr. Deborah Lee is a medical author for Dr Fox On-line Pharmacy.

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