Should You Still Be Testing for COVID?

The risk of severe COVID has declined substantially due to widespread immunity from prior infection and vaccination. While the burden is no longer considered a public health emergency, the virus causing the disease remains a threat to the elderly and those with certain medical conditions.

Maintaining certain health protocols—like testing and staying away from others when sick—is important to limit transmission and prevent sickness in vulnerable people.

Testing is especially important if you plan to visit with people who are at risk to experience complications if they contract the virus.

Test as close to the time of the visit as reasonably possible.

Kits are readily available in most drug stores. Most use antigen testing, which are less sensitive than PCR tests done at hospitals and laboratories. However, taking two antigen tests 48 hours apart is reliable.

If you experience symptoms of COVID—fever, cough, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, muscle or body aches, or runny nose—test and stay away from others to prevent spreading whatever it is you have. There are plenty of other viruses out there that can easily be passed along and pose a threat to older people and those with a weakened immune system.

Trey Dobson, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.