ATLANTA, GA-People who should get tested include those who have symptoms of COVID-19, people who have had close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes) with someone with confirmed COVID-19, people who have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, or state health department.
Protect yourself and others. Wear a mask, wash hands often, stay 6 ft from others.
Considerations for who should get tested
People who have symptoms of COVID-19
People who have had close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes) with someone with confirmed COVID-19
People who have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, local or state health department.
Not everyone needs to be tested. If you do get tested, you should self-quarantine/isolate at home pending test results and follow the advice of your health care provider or a public health professional.
CORONAVIRUS SELF-CHECKER A guide to help you make decisions on when to see testing and appropriate medical care. Whether you test positive or negative for COVID-19, you should take preventive measures to protect yourself and others.
How to get a viral test
A viral test checks samples to find out if you are currently infected with COVID-19. The time it takes to process these tests can vary.
- You can visit your state or local health department’s website to look for the latest local information on testing.
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested, call your healthcare provider first.
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and are not tested, it is important to stay home. Find out what to do if you are sick.
What to do after a viral test
To get your test result, please check with the group that performed your test, such as your healthcare provider or health department. How long it will take to get your test results depends on the test used.
- If you test positive for COVID-19, know what protective steps to take if you are sick.
- Most people have mild COVID-19 illness and can recover at home without medical care. Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms are getting worse or if you have questions about your health.
- If you test negative for COVID-19, you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected. This does not mean you will not get sick:
- A negative test result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing or that your sample was collected too early in your infection.
- You could also be exposed to COVID-19 after the test and then get infected and spread the virus to others.
- If you have symptoms later, you may need another test to determine if you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
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Media Release/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
