Instructions for COVID-19 patients

At St. Vincent Health, we acknowledge that protocols around COVID-19 and preventing its spread are often complex.

These instructions clarify a variety of situations, including instructions for people awaiting test results, how to manage a positive result, what to do in the event of a negative test (but are still symptomatic), and how to manage exposure to a positive case.

In all cases, continued social distancing, facial coverings and assiduous hand washing are key to stopping COVID-19 contagion.

Who have been tested and are awaiting results:

• Stay home and monitor your health to help protect your friends, family, and others from possibly getting COVID-19 from you (watch for symptoms like fever, cough, fatigue, loss of sense of smell or taste, etc.). “Act like it will be positive.”
• Think about everyone you have been around recently. This will be important information to give health workers if your test is positive.

Who have received positive results:

• Stay home except to get medical care
• You should be in isolation (stay away from others) until:

You have had no fever for at least 24 hours

(without using medicine that reduces fevers)

AND

other symptoms have improved

AND

At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared

If you tested positive and have no had symptoms, you should be in isolation for 10 days starting from the date of your positive test.

Who have received negative results:

• You probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected.
• Continue to take measures to keep yourself and those around you safe (hand washing, avoiding close contact, cover nose and mouth with mask when around others, etc.)
• If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you must complete a full 14 days of quarantine, regardless of negative test results.

Who have been exposed to a positive case:  

• Stay at home or stay put in your same location for 14 days after your last exposure so you don’t spread the disease to healthy people.
• If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you must complete a full 14 days of quarantine, regardless of test results.
• If you live with someone who has COVID-19 and are caring for them or continuing to have contact, quarantine as soon as you know you have been exposed. Your quarantine should continue for 14 days after the end of the infection person’s isolation or 14 days after your last contact with the infected person.
• If you get sick, contact Lake County Public Health, get tested, and begin isolating at home.