When It's an Emergency

4 Reasons To Get Tested For COVID-19

After over a year of new restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, many people have settled into the new normal. While much of the initial anxiety and uncertainty has calmed down, COVID-19 remains a persistent concern. If you think you may have the novel coronavirus or you simply need to prove that you're healthy, a COVID-19 test can give you what you need. These are just four reasons you might want to get yourself tested for COVID-19:

1. Give yourself peace of mind after potential COVID-19 exposure

Often, people don't know when they've been exposed to COVID-19. However, in some cases, contact tracing allows health officials to contact people who may have contracted the illness from a friend, family member, or coworker. If you've been exposed to COVID-19, taking a test can let you know whether or not you have the disease.

2. Distinguish between allergies and COVID-19

Allergies can be triggered by a number of allergens, but many people suffer from seasonal allergies triggered by pollen. Spring is a notoriously difficult time for seasonal allergy sufferers as many plants are in full bloom. Unfortunately, the symptoms of allergies can mimic the symptoms of COVID-19. Both conditions can cause sore throats, coughing, and sinus discomfort. Getting tested for COVID-19 can help you treat your symptoms appropriately. Antihistamines can relieve allergy symptoms, while COVID-19 requires careful monitoring.

3. Meet travel requirements

Travel has been discouraged throughout the coronavirus pandemic, but sometimes it's unavoidable. If you plan to travel by air, you will have to meet certain travel requirements. Many airlines require that passengers present a negative COVID-19 test taken no sooner than 72 hours before their flight. Getting yourself tested will allow you to board an airplane to your destination. Failure to do so could mean getting left at the departure gate and being unable to travel.

4. Find out if you need to quarantine

People who have COVID-19 need to quarantine themselves whether or not they're symptomatic. Quarantine means that you need to stay home and avoid contact with other people until several days after your last symptom passes. Quarantining can be a hassle, especially if you have obligations like work or school. COVID-19 testing can help you figure out if you need to quarantine yourself. If you have symptoms of illness but test negative for COVID-19, you may simply have a common cold, which means you can carry on with your business as usual.

Reach out to a medical center, such as Dewey Medical, to schedule COVID-19 testing. 


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