COVID-19 Exposure During Holiday Season: What You Should Do If You Get Exposed, Test Positive for the Virus

This holiday season, the chances of falling ill are high due to exposure to many people during Christmas and New Year gatherings and events.

What if you're one of these many people, and you just had a COVID-19 exposure? You surely want to know what to do if you test positive for the virus.

An NBC 5 Chicago report specified that as families and friends gather to celebrate the holiday season, many search for information about how long they should quarantine, if at all. They also want to know how long they might be infectious.

To help those in a quest for the right thing to do and places to go after receiving a COVID-19 positive result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has set guidelines for those who tested positive or suspected that they were exposed to an infected person.

The CDC Guidance

The CDC said COVID-19 symptoms could occur anywhere between two and 14 days after an individual gets exposed to the virus. Any person who has the symptoms need to get tested for COVID-19.

If you're wondering, who should get tested and are likely to test positive for the virus, the health agency's most recent guidance specified, those who have been fully vaccinated, as well as those around a COVID-19-infected individual, are recommended to get tested from five to seven days after they get exposed. Previous guidance indicated that tests should be done from three to five days from exposure.

People who develop symptoms need to get tested too because it could progress. However, if a test is negative and symptoms persist, there might be a need for another test, a few days after, specifically for those using the at-home test kits, which are detailed in a separate NBC 5 Chicago report.

Quarantine or Isolation Period

The CDC had also said, those who believe they have had COVID-19 exposure and haven't been vaccinated need to quarantine. More so, those who test positive for the virus, whether they are vaccinated or not, need to isolate.

People who have been within six feet of an individual who has COVID-19 for a cumulative total of at least 15 minutes over a 24-h period need to stay home for 14 days from their last interaction or contact with that infected individual and observe symptoms that may arise.

Whenever possible, people in quarantine need to stay away from people they're living with as well, especially those who are at an increased of developing severe COVID-19.

If symptoms occur within the quarantine period, the CDC guidance recommends immediate isolation and consultation with a healthcare provider.

For isolation, health experts recommend allotting a "sick room" or area in the house for family members who are infected. The CDC advised having a separate bathroom, too, if possible.

When to See a Doctor

The CDC is urging people who have or may have COVID-19 to observe for emergency warning indications and seek medical care right away if they experience any symptoms, which include trouble breathing, inability to stay awake or wake up, new confusion, have a different skin color, lips or nail beds.

One can also let the operator know if he believes he or someone he is living with has COVID-19. Those who test positive through an at-home test are advised to follow the most recent or updated CDC guidelines and inform their results to their healthcare provider, whose responsibility is to report the results to the state health department.

Related information about COVID-19 testing during the Holiday season is shown on KPIX CBS SF Bay Area's YouTube video below:

Check out more news and information on COVID-19 in Science Times.