With over 700,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California to date, our state is considered a high-risk area.
Testing is more important than ever, but long lines at testing centers not only take a lot of your time, it increases your chance of potential exposure to the virus.
Here’s how in-home COVID-19 testing can help slow the spread of this disease.
How home testing slows the spread of COVID-19
Testing can help slow the spread of COVID-19 by informing people who are sick that they should stay home.
Meanwhile, people who have received a positive diagnosis can communicate with the people they’ve been in contact with so that they, too, can get tested and further reduce the chance of spreading the disease.
However, long lines at testing centers and the high demand for tests means that results can often take weeks to return.
This can mean that someone who is sick may not be aware of their illness, thus unintentionally spreading the virus.
On the flip side, this can also mean that someone who isn’t sick may be missing work or other obligations for no reason.
That’s where at-home testing comes in. The benefits of in-home COVID-19 testing include…
- Faster results mean that people who are sick know when to quarantine, while people who are healthy can continue their life as normal
- Sick people do not potentially expose others to the virus at a clinic or other testing center
- People who use public transport do not unintentionally expose others to the virus
- You receive faster results with an in-home testing service, meaning that you know when to quarantine while the infection is still contagious – not weeks after the fact.
In-home testing is ideal for anyone who wants to get tested without leaving the home.
However, people with families, people with mobility considerations, and people living in retirement centers may especially benefit from the convenience
How do you know if you should get tested?
Unlike the flu, COVID-19 doesn’t cause symptoms in everyone who gets the virus.
Some people have few to mild symptoms while others have severe, life-threatening symptoms.
The symptoms of COVID-19 include (but are not limited to):
- Fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Headache
- Body aches
- Sore throat
If you’re feeling under the weather, you can also complete this symptom self-checker from the CDC to help get a better idea of what’s really ailing you.
You should also contact your doctor for advice.
Since COVID-19 symptoms are very similar to the flu, it’s important to stay home if you think there is any chance you are sick.
What if you test positive?
If you test positive, it’s important to inform everyone you may have been in contact with over the last couple of weeks.
Ultimately, a positive test helps the people you’ve been in contact with know when to take steps to minimize their exposure to anyone in their circle who may be high-risk.
These steps help your contacts know if they should quarantine and/or get tested, thus further slowing the spread of the virus.
- Inform your friends and family
- Inform your employer
- Inform your coworkers
- Inform the places you’ve been to help with contact tracing
If you do receive a positive test result, you’ll want to not only rest and care for yourself like any other illness, but also stay at home and minimize your exposure to others.
- Take care of yourself while you’re sick. Proper self-care will help you recover more quickly and get back to normal life.
- Stay in touch with your doctor and ask them for advice about treatment. Make sure to inform them about changes to your condition so they can better advise you as to whether you need to seek medical attention.
- Stay in touch with friends and family when you can. Staying socially connected can boost your mood and speed up your recovery.
- You’re still going to need to eat while you’re sick. Help minimize the chance of passing COVID-19 to someone else by ordering your groceries online or getting restaurant delivery.
- You can also ask friends and family if they can bring food to you. Just make sure to wear a mask when meeting them! You can also make arrangements for them to drop it off like contactless food delivery services.
- If you absolutely have to go out, make sure to wear a face mask.
Conclusion
You can help slow the spread of COVID-19 with in-home testing in Los Angeles from a service such as Concierge MD LA.
For the appointment, a registered nurse brings and administers the test in the patient’s home.
An at-home COVID test in LA can help anyone who wants to keep themself, their friends, and their families safe.
People with mobility considerations, the elderly, and families with young children can especially benefit from the convenience and safety of in-home testing.