Now that you have your COVID-19 test results, what do you do? The answer depends on your reasons for self-isolation and your symptoms.
After you have your COVID-19 test results, what do you do?
What you do depends on your symptoms.
Stay home until you feel better
Regardless of your test results, we recommend that you stay home until you feel better.
Feeling better means that:
- your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications (this includes all medications that decrease symptoms including Tylenol or ibuprofen);
- it has been at least 48 hours since the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea; and
- other symptoms feel like they have noticeably improved, and none of your symptoms are getting worse.
You do not have to stay home until all symptoms are completely gone. After a viral infection, you may have symptoms that linger, such as a cough. If you have lingering symptoms it does not mean you need to stay home until they completely go away.
Your result is positive
Find out what to do if you get a positive test result.
Your result is negative
If your test result is negative and you are not self-isolating for another reason your next step will depend on your symptoms. Get information for staying home when you’re sick.
If you were tested for COVID-19 before
Your previous test information will show up until your new result comes in. Check the date to make sure you’re looking at your most recent test results.
If you’re using a mobile phone you may need to scroll to see the date.
- Continue to stay home.
- Follow the information you received when you were tested
- Your test arrives at Whitehorse General Hospital.
- Special lab technicians process your test.
- Your test generally leaves from the Yukon for Vancouver in the early morning.
- Your sample arrives in Vancouver in the early afternoon.
- Your lab result will usually available 24 to 48 hours after arriving in Vancouver.
If you live in rural Yukon, ask your health-care provider about when your test results will be available.
Contact us if you have not received your result within 72 hours after your test’s arrival in Vancouver.
If you were tested in rural Yukon, phone:
- your local primary health-care centre; or
- your local medical clinic.
If you were tested in Whitehorse, phone:
- your primary care provider; or
- call Yukon Communicable Disease Control at 867-667-8323