Next Steps: After an At-Home Test

If your at-home COVID-19 test is Positive:

• Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should isolate at home for at least 5 days
• If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house
• Continue to wear a mask around others for an additional 5 days
• If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves
• If you cannot wear a mask around others, stay home and isolate for 10 days

How do I isolate at home?

• Stay home. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. Separate yourself from people and animals in your home.
• As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home.
• If possible, you should use a separate bathroom.
• Do not share personal household items like dishes, drinking glasses, eating utensils, towels, or bedding. After using these items, wash them thoroughly with soap and water.
• Postpone all non-essential medical appointments until you are out of isolation.
• Wash your hands often and practice good hygiene. Clean high touch surfaces every day.

If you test positive, notify your close contacts

If they:

• Have been boosted, OR
• Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months, OR
• Completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months
  • Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
  • Test on day 5, if possible.
  • If you develop symptoms, get re-tested and stay home.

If they:

• Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months and are not boosted, OR
• Completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted, OR
• Are unvaccinated
  • Stay home for 5 days. After that, continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
  • If you cannot quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days.
  • Test on day 5 if possible
  • If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home

If your at-home COVID-19 test is Negative:

• You most likely do not have COVID-19 at this time.
• You could have been exposed to COVID-19 at some point and not enough time has passed for the test to pick it up. You may test positive at a later date.
• You need to continue to practice protective measures to help keep yourself and others from getting sick.

See a doctor right away if you have emergency warning signs*

Emergency warning signs include:

• Struggling to breathe
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
• Constant chest pain or pressure
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded all the time
• Acting confused
• Difficult to wake up
• Slurred speech (new or getting worse)
• New seizure or seizures that won’t stop

*This list does not include all emergency warning signs. Call a doctor if you have other severe symptoms. Call 911 for any medical emergencies.