If you can get your hands on a rapid at home antigen test take it home. If you are at a market and see them on the shelf, buy them. Insurance companies are reimbursing, but even if you can’t get yours to pay, this test could make a big difference for you. So buy it. Go to the website covidtests.gov and order your free tests.
Now how to use them? I’ll write more about this, over and over again because I am a big fan of these tests but….
Here’s two ways to use them:
1. Test to return: The most reliable use of these tests is to protect those around you. If you’ve been diagnosed with COVID, use these tests after day 5 to see if you are still infectious. A positive test means you are most likely still infectious. I don’t even want to say most likely, because it is so likely that I just want to say, ASSUME YOU ARE INFECTIOUS. If tests are scarce, wait till day 8 or even 10 because it is likely you will still be positive on day 5. This time likely is a good word because some people stop having much virus replication after day five.
2. Test to stay: If a test is negative, you are probably not infectious. If you are worried you or your child might have covid, use a rapid antigen test. If it’s negative, it’s unlikely that they are contagious. *You might have COVID and a negative test, but your viral load is likely low enough that you aren’t going to infect someone else. If you aren’t regularly wearing N95 masks, and suspect you may have COVID and have a negative test, please wear a mask when you go out. All tests fail sometimes.
