Who should get tested for current infection?
CDC recommends that anyone with any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 get tested, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection. If you get tested because you have symptoms or were potentially exposed to the virus, you should stay away from others pending test results and follow the advice of your healthcare provider or a public health professional.
CDC TESTING GUIDANCE
Have you been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19?
If you have tested
POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
and have SYMPTOMS:
Isolate for 10DAYS from the date symptoms began.
If you have tested
POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
and have NO SYMPTOMS:
Isolate for 10DAYS from the date you had your test done.
If you have been in
CLOSE CONTACT
with someone diagnosed
with COVID-19:
Quarantine* for 10DAYS from your last exposure.
When to Get Testing?
- People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
- People who have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.
Fully vaccinated If you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you should get tested 3-5 days after your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. You should also wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative. You should isolate for 10 days if your test result is positive.
- People who have taken part in activities that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 because they cannot physically distance as needed to avoid exposure such as travel, attending large social or mass gatherings, or being in crowded or poorly-ventilated indoor settings.
- People who have been asked or referred to get tested by their healthcare provider or state, tribal, local health department, or territorial health department.