It truly is a waste of tests to test before you are sure you are having symptoms. This is a very fickle virus..just being in proximity to someone who has it is by no means a for sure thing you will get it.

It truly is a waste of tests to test before you are sure you are having symptoms.

Some people have such a mild case that they have few symptoms. If they do in fact have it, they can transmit it to others who may then have a much more severe case, sometimes a fatal case. Show your care for others, test. Especially since the tests that have been sent out are free.

Yes, of course it was wise to test if you have allergy-like symptoms. It is the responsible thing to do. Do your pharmacies have free tests you could pick up?

In my part of Michigan they are free at Walgreens. Best wishes for good health for you and your daughter.

Arcy, not true in this state. Our Director of Health is saying:

Test when you’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Get tested immediately if you’re showing symptoms. If you’re not showing symptoms, wait five days after the exposure and then test.

I would never take the chance of being asymptomatic with the virus and exposing my sister whose immune system is shot from Chemo.

They are clear enough on these instructions they are issuing 10 free tests per household per month. Couple of clicks on the website and the tests arrive in the mail about 48 hours later.

Something I didn't realize until the other day: The home tests have an expiration date. Before they were distributed free, I bought some tests on Amazon, and they expire this month. I don't know if there's a grace period after that or not.

Not a waste to test if asymptomatic but probably a waste to test three days after exposure.

Wear a mask around others and test after 5 days is the guidance I’ve seen.

FWIW, I've understand that it's possible the tests may still be good beyond their expiration date

Alisande, Look up the tests you have on internet. Some brands have been granted extensions by FDA. I have a few that have had the expiration date extended.

Thanks, Carol and Happy! I looked up my brand (iHealth) and learned the expiration has been extended by three months.

My DD was exposed on a Thursday (we know b/c she hadn't been around anyone else for 3 weeks), started symptoms on the following Sunday. Tested positive on Tuesday, which was the first day a free test was available and also the day her symptoms took a turn for the worse.

Raee, I hope your daughter gets better soon.

My vaxxed and boosted workout buddy tested positive last Friday and is not feeling well at all. She is being very responsible, and had to miss her Godmother's funeral yesterday since she was still testing positive. Her husband is an anti-vaxxer, and in a high risk category being obese and having had two heart attacks one of which was a sudden death episode at the gym where a defibrillator was luckily used. I hope he stays safe, don't think he would do well if he got it.

Sleeperblues, hope your coworker gets better soon.

Thanks, Kathsgrdn, DD came down with it actually back in January. Vaxed but not yet boosted. It took her a full 6-7 weeks before she started feeling fully well again.

Are you feeling better, Kath? did you test again? i hope your dd is doing alright.

Sjern, just have some nasal congestion/sneezing. I did retest Thursday before I ran some errands. Have to go out tomorrow or rather today, too. Negative again, so probably just allergies. I'm wearing my mask, though. I may do this from now on if I have any kind of respiratory illness. No one wants or needs the flu or anything else that I can pass on.

My daughter is feeling better and so is my son. They both were really feeling bad a day or so ago. My son was covid negative but picked something up from some guy who drove him around base when he had to come back to the states for training last week.

I tested negative 3 days in a row before testing positive on the 4th day. Test every few days for 2 weeks to know for sure.