With cases rising, and the highly contagious omicron variant being identified in neighboring counties, we wanted to provide a brief reminder on what to do if you test positive for COVID or are exposed to someone with COVID. Please know that we and the NYS Contact Tracers are working seven days a week to contact cases and people they were in contact with as quickly as possible. However, with the number of cases we are seeing and how many contacts there are, there are delays. Thank you for your understanding. Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season!
What should I do if I test positive for COVID?
- Stay home until you are no longer contagious
- People with COVID are typically contagious for about 10 days after their symptoms start and the two days before their symptoms started.
- Please note: If you tested positive on an at-home test kit, call our office on the next business day (if you are a Schuyler County resident).
- Let your employer/school and anyone you may have exposed to COVID know
- People are most likely to get COVID from you if they:
- Were within six feet of you while you were contagious for 10+ minutes
- Spent a long time with you in the same room / enclosed space
What should I do if I was exposed to COVID?
- Get tested
- You should get tested:
- About 5-7 days after you were exposed to the person with COVID or
- As soon as you develop symptoms
- Please note: If you test negative and then develop symptoms a few days later, you should get tested again.
- Be careful to not expose others to COVID in case you do end up getting it
- Limit contact with others (especially those at highest risk) for at least 10 days after the last time you were exposed to COVID. While it typically takes 5 or fewer days after being exposed to COVID to end up getting it, it can take up to 10-14 in some rare cases.