General Hospital’s Laura Wright Tests Positive For COVID-19

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory virus that has affected all of us. Betwixt March 2020 and March 2022, there were lxxx million COVID-nineteen cases and 1 million COVID-xix deaths in the US solitary. Equally we learn more well-nigh the virus, the ways to protect ourselves and others from the virus take improved. These include getting vaccinated, wearing a well-fitted mask, physical distancing, and testing for the virus— including at-domicile COVID tests.

This article will assistance y’all understand dissimilar types of COVID-19 at-habitation tests, where to get at-home testing kits, how to perform a COVID-xix self-exam, and what to do afterward getting your at-dwelling house test outcome.

COVID-xix is a virus that causes respiratory illness that tin lead to other long-term health weather condition and even death. The first case of the virus was in December 2019 and has spread rapidly, causing a global pandemic. The virus can spread from person to person via virus particles or droplets through actions such as animate, coughing, sneezing, laughing, and singing. It can accrue in enclosed spaces where there are a lot of people and poor ventilation. People wear masks, avert close contact with others, and go along rooms ventilated for these reasons.

If y’all are exposed to the virus and become infected, you may accept symptoms within 2 to 14 days. Symptoms include:

  • A new continuous cough
  • Fever (high temperature)
  • Difficulty animate or shortness of breath
  • Muscle aches
  • Sore throat
  • Loss of gustation and smell
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea and airsickness
  • Congestion or runny nose

It is important to call back that y’all may have no symptoms even though you are infected.

What Are COVID At Domicile Tests?

Self-testing for COVID-19 at home can help forbid the spread of the virus. At-dwelling COVID-xix tests are quick and easy tests to practice. They are available without a prescription, and the sample does not need to exist sent to a laboratory for testing. They detect electric current COVID-19 infection and give results in a few minutes.

At-home tests DO Non observe antibodies, pregnant they cannot tell you lot if you have previously been infected with COVID-nineteen. They also Practise NOT measure your level of immunity to the COVID-19 virus.

Why You May Want to Take a COVID At Home Test

IIf y’all have COVID-19, you are contagious to other people upwards to two days earlier your symptoms appear. You lot may exist contagious to others for another 10 to 20 days. Even if yous accept no symptoms yourself, you can all the same be contagious to others.

COVID-19 at-dwelling house tests, also called domicile tests, self-tests, or over-the-counter (OTC) tests, are an of import line of defense in protecting people from the COVID-19 virus. Y’all should take an at-home test:

  • If yous begin to have COVID-nineteen symptoms
  • At least five days after y’all have been in contact with someone with COVID-xix
  • Before you gather with others — specially people at risk of severe affliction, older people, immunocompromised people, or people (including children) who do not accept upwards-to-appointment COVID-19 vaccinations.

An at-habitation test volition help you know if y’all accept the COVID-19 virus and help you avert spreading the virus to others.

Types of At Domicile COVID Tests Available

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two types of calm COVID-19 tests – antigen and molecular tests. A list of FDA-approved brands is available hither.

Antigen tests

Antigen tests are the virtually common type of at-dwelling house COVID-xix test, and people with or without symptoms can have them. The result of your antigen test is available within 10 to 30 minutes (depending on the brand).

Molecular tests

People with or without symptoms tin can take molecular tests, and the effect is available within 20 to hour. Molecular tests generally require a reader sold separately from the examination kit.

Where To Get an At Home COVID Test

At-home COVID-19 tests are now available for purchase or may be provided to y’all by the regime costless of charge up to a certain limit per household. Go your at-domicile testing kit either past:

  • Ordering for costless online or by telephone.
    Every home in the U.s. is eligible to order 2 sets of four free at-dwelling house tests. These are rapid antigen tests and can be ordered online or by telephone. The online link and telephone number are available here. These tests are available to everyone and do non crave ID, credit menu, or health insurance. US Mail (USPS) delivers these tests to yous and ordinarily ships within 7-12 days of ordering.
  • Purchasing from your local pharmacy.
    At-home COVID-19 tests are bachelor for sale throughout the US. Your local retailer or pharmacy can tell you where at-home tests are available most you. If yous have employer or Market health insurance, your insurance volition pay you back for 8 at-home tests per month for each person in your program. Larn more almost test kit insurance cover here.

Steps To Perform an At Home COVID Test

Photograph Courtesy: Basilico Studio Stock/iStock

Doing your at-domicile COVID-nineteen test is quick and piece of cake. Each test kit contains:

  • A test swab
  • A dropper and liquid
  • A test card
  • An teaching leaflet

Read the examination instructions included in the examination kit, as procedures may vary slightly from one brand to the next. The following general guidelines are also bachelor in a video here.

  • Apply a disinfectant spray to make clean the surface where you volition conduct the examination
  • Wash your easily thoroughly with warm water and soap
  • Insert the swab one-half to 3-quarters of an inch inside each nostril, rotating the swab five times per nostril. This does non hurt merely feels a little strange
  • Open the dropper and place the swab into the liquid. Twirl the swab xv times in the liquid
  • Throw away the swab
  • Replace the lid on the dropper
  • Place three drops of the liquid onto the collection chamber of the test bill of fare
  • Following the length of time indicated in the education leaflet (between 10 and 20 minutes), you tin read your results
  • The exam carte du jour contains the letters C and T. If the test is valid, a solid line will appear at C. If this line does not appear, the test is invalid. You will have to repeat the test using a new test kit.
  • A line at T signifies that you accept tested positive for COVID-19

What Happens After You Accept a At Home COVID Examination?

What you do next depends on your result.

  • A positive test consequence:
    If yous have tested positive for COVID-19, yous should isolate yourself from friends and family unit and follow up-to-engagement COVID-19 guidelines. Launder your easily well and often. If your symptoms worsen – such as shortness of jiff or difficulty breathing – go to your local emergency department.
  • A negative test result:
    If you accept symptoms or take been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, consider testing once more one-2 days after the first test.

How Accurate Are At Home COVID Tests?

At-habitation tests are not every bit accurate as laboratory-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which can detect smaller quantities of the virus. They also should non be used in isolation but as part of a group of actions and practices like vaccination, mask-wearing, and physical distancing. This volition help yous protect yourself and others from the virus.

Resource
Links

  • COVID-nineteen” via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • “Self-Testing” via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • “ What is Coronavirus” via Johns Hopkins Medicine
  • “Become complimentary at-dwelling house COVID-19 tests” via COVID.gov
  • “How to do an at-home COVID-19 rapid antigen exam correctly” via UC Davis Health
  • “If You lot Are Sick” via Centers for Illness Control and Prevention
  • “Testing for COVID-nineteen at domicile” via Mayo Clinic


Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/healthy-living/why-you-still-need-at-home-covid-tests?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex&ueid=efe04a15-77a3-4f66-b0b4-c3d9215591bb

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