SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — COVID-19 cases are rising across the Bay Area, but there are few official guidelines this summer on what to do if you or someone you know tests positive.
Perhaps you have a coworker, family member or friend who has been sick this summer and you’re worried they may have COVID-19.
Dr. Sofer Mekuria is the public health medical director for the Contra Costa County Health Department, and said the summer is a time when people are traveling, going out, meeting people in large groups, and going on vacation, which increases the chances of exposure to COVID-19, especially as case numbers are increasing.
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So where do you start if you have cold or flu-like symptoms?
First, throw away any expired home test kits, as the results are unreliable. If you get a positive result with a new kit, teeth positive.
“If your home test is negative, but you have signs or symptoms of COVID, you should assume it’s a false negative and get tested the next day, and the day after, and the day after that,” said Dr. John Schwartzberg of the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health.
“If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home until you feel better and your fever has subsided for at least 24 hours,” Dr. Mekuria advises.
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There are no clearly defined rules anymore, but there are suggestions from doctors.
“You don’t have to quarantine for five days anymore, but that doesn’t mean you can go out and be normal. You wear a mask in places where there’s risk. I think wearing a mask for five days is reasonable,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF.
Wear a mask when you’re at home and when you’re with your loved ones. Is anyone taking coronavirus precautions seriously this summer?
“Going to a wedding? When traveling, where you’re surrounded by your nose and mouth, it really makes sense to protect yourself. Especially if the person next to you on the plane is coughing and has symptoms, carry a mask with you and wear it if you feel unsafe,” says Dr. Chin Hong.
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