TESTING FAQ
INELIGIBILTY
I DON’T HAVE SYMPTOMS, BUT I’VE HAD CONTACT (E.G. BAR, RESTAURANT, PARTY ETC.) WITH A COVID-19+ CASE, CAN I BE TESTED?
- TESTS ARE CURRENTLY LIMITED TO SYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS. UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY PUBLIC HEALTH.
- IF YOU’VE HAD ANY COVID-19 SYMPTOMS IN THE LAST 14 DAYS, YOU MAY BE TESTED.
I DON’T HAVE SYMPTOMS, BUT I’VE HAD CLOSE CONTACT (E.G. HOUSEHOLD, CLOSE WORKING PROXIMITY, ETC.) WITH A COVID-19+ CASE, CAN I BE TESTED?
- TESTS ARE CURRENTLY LIMITED TO SYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS.
- BECAUSE OF YOUR CLOSE CONTACT HOWEVER, YOU ARE ADVISED TO SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS FROM THE TIME OF YOUR EXPOSURE
- IN A SHARED HOUSEHOLD, THIS WOULD BE 14 DAYS FROM THE TIME THAT THE COVID-19+ CASE DEVELOPED SYMPTOMS
I DON’T HAVE SYMPTOMS, BUT I’M A HEALTHCARE/ESSENTIAL WORKER AND I’VE HAD CLOSE CONTACT (E.G. HOUSEHOLD, CLOSE WORKING PROXIMITY) WITH A COVID-19+ CASE, CAN I BE TESTED?
- SELF-ISOLATE UNTIL PUBLIC HEALTH CONTACTS YOU REGARDING YOUR NEXT STEPS
RESULTS
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT TO GET MY TEST RESULTS?
- 1.5 – 3 DAYS
IF MY TEST COMES BACK POSITIVE, HOW LONG DO I SELF-ISOLATE?
- SELF-ISOLATE FOR 10 DAYS FROM THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS AND UNTIL SYMPTOMS HAVE RESOLVED
- FEVER MUST HAVE SUBSIDED WITHOUT THE USE OF FEVER-REDUCING MEDICATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED RESOLVED
IF MY TEST COMES BACK NEGATIVE, CAN I GO BACK TO WORK?
- IF YOU HAVEN’T HAD EXPOSURE TO A COVID-19+ CASE, YOU MAY RETURN TO WORK ONCE SYMPTOMS RESOLVE
- UNTIL SYMPTOMS RESOLVE, YOU ARE ADVISED TO SELF-ISOLATE
- IF YOU’VE HAD EXPOSURE TO A COVID-19+ CASE, YOU ARE ADVISED TO SELF-ISOLATE FOR 10 DAYS FROM THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS OR 14 DAYS FROM THE TIME OF YOUR EXPOSURE
- IF YOU’RE A HEALTHCARE/ESSENTIAL WORKER, SELF-ISOLATE UNTIL PUBLIC HEALTH CONTACTS YOU REGARDING YOUR NEXT STEPS
IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A NEGATIVE TEST RESULT AND STILL HAVE COVID-19?
- NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS WITH COVID-19 INFECTIONS AKA FALSE POSITIVES ARE POSSIBLE
- THERE MAY BE A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THIS
UPDATED TO LATEST MHO GUIDELINES (JUNE 11, 2020)