That's when you should be tested for Covid after Thanksgiving

If you have chosen to see family or friends of these holidays, you need to make sure you are healthy.


Although public health experts and disease and prevention centers (CDC) exhorted Americans toAvoid traveling this holiday seasonSome people decided to continue with theirThanksgiving plans as usual. If you have celebrated the holidays with people outside your home, it would be wise to get a Covid test after thanksgiving.

If you do not do itTest at the right timeYou can completely miss the infection, so when it comes to Covid tests after Thanksgiving, you have to go at the right time. For expert advice on when to test, read it and know what your results could mean for future travel plans,You can not enter these 8 states without a negative covidation test.

When should I be tested for Covid after Thanksgiving?

Doctor's hands in protection gloves holds Testing Kit for the coronavirus test
exit

Family doctor Harris Cohen, MD, points out that "the strong science-based recommendation concerns family and friends not to meet for Thanksgiving". However, if you have returned home for the holidays, you should get a COVID test "five days after possible exhibition," says Cohen. And for testing a misconception to ditch, discoverThe Covid test myth, you have to stop believing, the epidemiologist says.

Why do I have to wait five days to get a COVID test?

Young man sitting at home. Sad guy sitting on the couch , copy space
exit

The calendar of your COVID test is essential for accurate diagnosis. Harvard Health indicates that if you are tested the day you are infected, let's say Thanksgiving-your test will come back almost negative "because there isnot yet enough viral particles In your nose or saliva to detect. For the most accurate results, experts suggest waiting for the fourth or fifth day after possible exposure to be tested.

"The chances of getting a false negative test result decreases if you are tested a few days after being infected, or a few days after yourdevelop symptoms"Said Harvard Health, who gives the test the biggest chances of being exact.

A study published by theAnnals of internal medicineIn August, examined false negative rates in the days following the exhibition. The study revealed that the fourth day of infection, which is usually just before the start of symptoms, thePossibility of getting a false positive a PCR Covid test amounted to 67%, but it dropped to 38% on the fifth day, which is usuallyWhen the symptoms start. Eight days after the exhibition, the test has only 20% chance to show a false positive.

As a result, the five to eight-day window after exposure is the best time to get a COVID test with the most accurate results. As you expect to get the test, you should in quarantine in case you would have Covid. And for more useful information delivered directly in your inbox,Sign up for our daily newsletter.

What type of COVID test should I get?

A doctor in a protective suit taking a nasal swab from a person to test for possible coronavirus infection
exit

Cohen suggests getting a PCR test. This is the most widely used COVID test, which is done using a nasal rod.PCR tests Working "by detecting the genetic material of Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, in the nose and the upper throat", according to Mit Medical. These tests can be found in intervener clinics, urgent care centers, hospitals and Drive-Thru test centers. And for more on the future of coronavirus management,These are the doctors of the side effects of Vaccine Covid who are worried about.

What should I do if my COVID test returns positive?

covid swab in glass vial
Refuge

The first thing to do after receiving new news that your Covid test has been positive is to contact someone you've seen on Thanksgiving and tell them about quarantining and getting a COVID test immediately. You must also start your own forties at home, far from others for at least 14 days. The CDC suggests you to stay hydrated, take over-the-counter medications to improve the symptoms, wash hands and surfaces often, andWatch how your condition develops. And for the symptoms to keep an eye on,These 4 easy failing symptoms could mean that you have COVID, say experts.

Better lifeConstantly monitoring the latest news regarding COVID-19 in order to keep you healthy, safe and informed. Here are the answers to your Burning questions , the ways you can stay safely and in good health, the facts You must know, the risks you should avoid, the myths You must ignore, and the symptoms to know. Click here for all our COVID-19 covers , and Subscribe to our newsletter stay up to date.

10 things to know before shopping for grocery stores at Walmart
10 things to know before shopping for grocery stores at Walmart
The head of the CDC shares the message of "imminent doom" as Covid Surge box
The head of the CDC shares the message of "imminent doom" as Covid Surge box
Top 3 things to do before receiving your vaccine, says doctor
Top 3 things to do before receiving your vaccine, says doctor