Did you just test COVID positive but have absolutely no idea what to do next? Keep reading…
Health News
In case you’ve been living under a rock or on the dark side of the moon, the Omicron Variant is everywhere. Not only are the double-vaccinated and boosted testing COVID positive at a rapid pace, but health officials are warning that it’s no longer a matter of IF you get it, but WHEN you get it.
Scary news, huh? Well, it doesn’t have to be — particularly if you prepare now and know exactly what to do if/when you test COVID positive.
Let’s take a look:
If you take the test and receive an email or phone call while at work, at a restaurant, or otherwise out and about from your home base, the first and most important thing to do is to ISOLATE IMMEDIATELY. Or, in other words, go home ASAP! If you can avoid public transportation or riding with others, please do so. If not, just get home as soon and as safely as you can to begin a 10-day isolation period.
During isolation, it’s important to avoid other people at all costs. If you live with your family or a roommate, arrange to sleep in a separate room alone. If you can identify a bathroom that only you (and nobody else) will use for the next 10 days, that is also important to arrange.
Order food and grocery delivery. Stay indoors. Avoid other people. Hydrate, eat, and rest. You may or may not experience symptoms — although, carriers of the Omicron Variant are reporting that symptoms are relatively mild and resemble the common cold. This means cough meds, a decongestant, and Tylenol or Ibuprofen will become essential.
The next step after testing COVID positive is to make a list of all the people you were in close and elongated contact with during the past 3 days, then alert them that you’ve tested positive so that they can arrange to get tested.
Granted, telling others about your COVID health status may seem embarrassing at first. However, it’s important for others to be made aware so that they can help stop the spread. If they end up being positive. it’s much better for them to know early because you told them rather than have them discover it much later once they’re sick.
In some cities (such as New York), the local health department will telephone you and initiate contact tracing of everyone you’ve been in contact with during the past 72 hours. They can even alert others without giving your name, if this matters to you.
The third step after testing COVID positive is to contact your primary care doctor and alert him/her of your diagnosis. They can help you with information, symptoms, and urgent care should you need it.
Additionally, some places of employment will require that you submit a negative COVID test and a note of medical clearance from a physician before you’re allowed to go back to work. So, talking with your doctor on Day 1 will prove to be invaluable to you later on.
Finally, if you’re fully vaccinated, a COVID-positive diagnosis involving the Omicron Variant will likely be an uncomplicated and mild week of rest for you. However, if you’ve not yet received your booster shot, it’s best to arrange for that ASAP.
Of course, if you’re still not vaccinated at all, it is imperative to GET THE VACCINE. No, the vaccine was not designed to prevent you from ever getting COVID, but it can prevent you from having to be hospitalized or even death. Getting the vaccine is also the right thing to do, since the virus will continue mutating until enough people are vaccinated and we’ve reached herd immunity.
So, don’t panic. If you test COVID positive with the Omicron Variant, your isolation period can turn out to be a week of rest and relaxation if you’re prepared — and vaccinated!
Thanks for doing this DJ