COVID: Positive or Negative? What Should I Do Next?
Many others are in the same boat as COVID-19 patients. The recent Covid cases have risen to over 240,000 each day. A family member or relative has tested positive or has been exposed to someone who has, and the holiday get-together is all just moments away. So, what’s next?
Following the ministry’s decision to reduce the suggested isolation and quarantine duration for health care professionals, the government has issued new recommendations that reduce the required isolation period for the general public.
We contacted two infectious disease experts to provide answers to some of the most often asked queries in these scenarios.
What should you do if you’ve tested positive for COVID-19?
You are infected if your Covid test is showing a positive result. Right now, you’re either diagnostically infected or well before infected. According to the revised guidelines, you must then isolate for 5 days. (The time limit has been reduced from seven to five days.)
Isolation refers to isolating the afflicted person from the rest of the world. If you’ve been exposed to the virus or have a direct contact infected with COVID, quarantine is what you should do. With isolation, health experts also suggest that you should regularly check your body temperature, oxygen level and take proper medication such as molnupiravir capsule if require. 
If the infected person has no symptoms after the 5-day isolation period, they can finish isolation and wear a mask for another 5-day period, according to the revised rules. Those who develop positive symptoms must inform their close friends and family.
According to new research, science “demonstrates that the most of SARS-CoV-2 spread occurs initially in the early stage of illness, often in the 1-2 days prior to the beginning of the illness and the 2-3 days after.”
What should you do if you’ve been contacted by someone who has COVID-19?
There is no need to isolate them if they have been vaccinated and taken booster dose, according to the guidelines. However, for the first 10 days after exposure, the advice recommends that these people should wear a good quality mask on all occasions when around others.
The officials urge 5-day quarantine for anyone else, including the un-vaccinated people and for those who have been more than 6 months since their second vaccine injection done, as well as wearing a well-fitting mask for the next 5 days.
Those who have done their vaccination but not boosted can avoid the quarantine but must wear a good quality mask for at-least 10 days instead because many persons who have been exposed have difficulty quarantining. If a 5-day quarantine is not possible, the exposed individual should wear a protective full mask for at least 10 days when in the presence of others, as per the guideline.
If someone who has been exposed develops symptoms, they are classified as infected and must follow the instructions.
When should the exposed person get tested?
“You should usually wait 2-3 days after the exposure,” says the expert. “The virus needs to reproduce.”
Those who have been come to a close at least once should be tested.
“However, there is data to back up daily testing, which they can use to direct their operations, although this isn’t ideal guidance.” For this purpose, home testing is sufficient.”
When can the infected individuals safely associate with others?
“If normal, after 10 days without a mask and 5 days with a mask,” says the expert.
“We believe this might also be influenced by home test negativity as a criterion [for whether or not to mingle].”
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