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COVID-19 Negative Test Result Education

Your COVID-19 test is Negative: What does it mean?

Today your test is negative which means that you do not have the COVID-19 virus and are not at risk of passing the disease to anyone. But if you were in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 you should still quarantine for 10 days even if today you tested negative for COVID-19 because you could have tested too early to show a positive result. This means that you could still pass the virus to someone if you begin to develop symptoms on COVID-19 in the next 3-10 days.

What is considered a “CLOSE CONTACT”?

  1. You were within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. It does not matter if you were wearing a mask and or a face shield.

  2. You had unprotected contact with body fluids and/or secretions from someone with COVID-19. For example, you were coughed or sneezed on, you shared a drinking cup or eating utensils, you kissed, or you provided care to them without wearing the right protective equipment.

What is my risk of getting covid from a close contact?

A person with positive COVID-19 results with symptoms can infect others from 2 days before their symptoms first started until they are allowed to end their home isolation on day 10. A person with a positive COVID-19 test who does not have symptoms is considered to be infectious from 2 days before their test was taken until 10 days after their test.

How to protect your self and others from Covid-19 infection

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

  • Avoid close contact. Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members. Outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household. Always avoid gatherings outside your immediate family that lives with you.

  • Always wear a mask or face covering. Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others. Masks help prevent you from getting or spreading the virus. Everyone should wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household.

  • Always test if you have symptoms of COVID-19: Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting or Diarrhea.

  • Always isolate for 10 days if you think you have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

  • Always think of others who are vulnerable from dying due to COVID-19 infection if you expose them.

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