Due to the high numbers of COVID cases and exposures (and just general illness) in the community right now, we are changing how we handle testing and results of COVID tests. We know this is all stressful for our patients/families as well, we apologize if we make anything harder on you. we want to provide the absolute best care for our patients during this unprecedented season of illness. Please read below:
When your child gets tested for COVID at one of our offices:
1)You will need to register on the mobility website and supply your email address to get results. We will not be calling families with results any longer. We will still publish results to the portal, but this will be a longer delay than getting the results directly from Mobility. 2) Results may take up to 48 hrs. (If testing happens over the weekend, do not expect results until Monday or Tuesday).
3)If you have further questions regarding your results or did not receive your results via email, please call the office during regular business hours.
4) If parents want to be tested as well as their children, they will need to have their information entered into the Mobility app/website before they come to the office.
What to do if you test positive for COVID-19?
Children 2 and over who can reliably wear a mask: If you are ASYMPTOMATIC: Isolate yourself at home for 5 days after your test day. Then, wear a mask in public places and around other people for the next 5 days.
If you are SYMPTOMATIC: Isolate yourself at home for at least 5 days after your symptoms start. If after 5 days you have been without fever for 24 hrs without medication and your other symptoms are improving, you can end your isolation and wear a mask in public places and around other people for 5 more days. The CDC does not recommend taking a rapid test before ending the isolation period; the at home test can remain positive on average for 5 to 7 days but for up to 6 weeks or longer.
Children under age 2 or who cannot reliably wear a mask over their nose and mouth:
Isolate at home for 10 days after the first day of symptoms. (The first day of symptoms counts as day 0. Isolate through day 10 and return to the public on day 11.)
What if I am exposed to someone who tested positive?
If you have received a booster shot, completed your primary mRNA COVID vaccine 2-dose series less than 6 months ago, or received a single Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine less than 2 months ago:
The CDC says you do not need to quarantine after potential exposure. Wear a mask in public places and around other people and get tested 5 days after being exposed or if you develop symptoms. You should continue to wear a mask in public places and around other people for 10 days after your exposure, even if you test negative. If your exposure is to a child who has tested positive in your home, they need to isolate away from other family members, as best as possible. All household members are considered close exposed contacts. The last/most recent day you are exposed to someone with COVID during their contagious period (1-2 days before symptoms start through 5 days after symptoms start) counts as day 0.
If you are unvaccinated, or not fully vaccinated against COVID:
Quarantine at home for 5 days after your exposure and then get tested. Wear a mask around other people for 10 days, even if your test is negative. Re-test if you develop any symptoms.
Children under age 2 or who cannot reliably wear a mask over their nose and mouth:
Quarantine at home for 10 days after the date of exposure (day 0) and return to the public on day 11. Your child should get tested if they develop symptoms of COVID during their quarantine period. What does it mean to isolate?
Try to separate yourself from people as much as possible, stay in your room away from other household members even for meals. Someone should deliver food to your bedroom door. Designate one bathroom for the infected person if you have more than one bathroom. After using a shared bathroom disinfect the toilet seat and handle as well as the faucet handles, soap dispenser, countertop and light switch. Close the toilet lid before you flush. Turn on the exhaust fan and open windows (if weather allows) to improve ventilation in shared areas. If the infected person is a child over age 2, then both the infected person and the caregiver should wear a mask when the caregiver enters the room and open the window if possible. If others are in the house wear a high-quality mask when you leave your room. Everyone over age 2 should mask up in shared spaces. The most important thing is keeping people from breathing air that is filled with germs.
Who do I notify that I tested positive?
Anyone with whom you spent time going back 2 days before you got tested or your symptoms started. The CDC defines a close contact as someone who was less than 6 feet from you for 15 minutes or more.
I have already had Covid. Am I at risk for reinfection?
Yes. The degree of protection you get from previous infection varies widely. Early studies suggest antibodies from past COVID infections are not a strong defense against the Omicron variant of COVID.
A note on testing: Rapid tests are acceptable (you are more likely to get a false negative than a false positive). PCR tests take longer but are more sensitive/accurate.
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We will be sending most of our COVID tests through this company - they offer less invasive testing and more rapid turn-around for results. When your child is tested in the office, you can go to the following link and use the instructions provided below to sign up to receive their results. We will also notify you from the office regarding POSITIVE COVID tests, but you may receive results faster/as they are available by signing up for Mobility Health's app/reporting system.
Please call the office for any questions or concerns: (513)922-8200.
https://srs.nolims.app/users/sign_up?access_code=WSPEDS
