Positive COVID Test: Treatment & Next Steps
Testing positive for COVID can leave you feeling uneasy with lots of questions. Do I need to quarantine and for how long? Do I need to see a doctor for COVID treatment? What if I’m vaccinated, but I tested positive for COVID?
We’re here to answer your questions and provide clarity. Below you’ll also find out what to do if you were near someone who tested positive for COVID. If at any point you have questions, please schedule an appointment with your primary care provider or check out our treatment option below.
COVID-19 Treatment
Telehealth Visit
Schedule a telehealth visit with a provider to assess COVID-19 symptoms and start a treatment plan today. We accept most insurances for these visits including Medicaid and Medicare.
Isolation & Treatment Guidelines
It is important to understand the typical COVID-19 symptoms so you know how to monitor how you’re feeling. Typical symptoms of COVID-19 may appear 2 to 14 days after you are exposed to the virus.
According to the CDC website, symptoms include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
If you test positive for COVID-19 and have the above listed symptoms, whether or not you are vaccinated, please follow these guidelines:
- Isolate at home for 5 days from when the symptoms started. Discontinue isolation after the 5 days only if you do not have a fever for 24 hours without the use of ibuprofen/Tylenol and your other symptoms are resolving. Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
- If you are moderately ill, meaning you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing, or were severely ill with COVID-19, isolate for at least 10 days.
- Treat your symptoms with over the counter medications like ibuprofen/Tylenol and medications for cough/cold.
- Get plenty of rest
- Drink lots of fluids
It is important to seek medical care when:
- You have a fever of 100.4 F or higher for 4 or 5 days
- Shortness of breath
- Worsening symptoms
- If you have any concerns or questions
If you test positive for COVID-19 and have no symptoms, whether or not you are vaccinated, you are only required to stay home for 5 days after the positive test result.
For more information, refer to to the CDC’s guidelines on isolation and precautions for people with COVID-19.
It is extremely important to notify your close contacts of your positive COVID result, whether or not you have COVID symptoms. Someone is considered a close contact if you were less than 6 feet away from them for 15 minutes or longer and you had contact with them up to 48 hours prior to the onset of COVID symptoms or a positive test result.
What if I Was Around Someone with COVID?
If you were near someone who tested positive for COVID at least 48 hours prior to when they tested positive, your next steps are dependent on if you have symptoms.
If you have the aforementioned COVID-19 symptoms, whether or not you are vaccinated, please get tested. Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine and Rapid Testing LLC are teaming up to provide COVID rapid testing 7 days a week. Click here to learn more about the COVID rapid tests.
If you do not have symptoms, please follow these guidelines:
- You do not need to quarantine at home, but please monitor symptoms for up to 10 days.
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
- The CDC recommends getting tested 5 to 7 days after possible exposure even if you are fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms.
- Otherwise, get a COVID test with the onset of fever, body aches, cough, runny nose/congestion, loss of taste or smell, or other concerns.
If you have any questions about your positive COVID result, do not hesitate to reach out to your primary care physician or the providers at Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine. Click here to schedule a telehealth visit with an Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine provider today. These visits are available 7 days a week.