When Will I Test Negative After Having COVID?

If you’ve recently been infected with COVID, then you are probably wondering, “how long can you test positive for COVID-19?” and when it will be before the results start coming out negative. The COVID-19 incubation period takes around 14 days. Most people show symptoms as soon as 3-6 days after infection. Some of the common COVID-19 symptoms include fever, chills, coughing, muscle and body aches, fatigue, and breathing difficulties. You may also experience headaches, loss of taste, or shortness of breath.  

However, it is important to note that not all people with COVID are symptomatic. Therefore, if you’ve recently been exposed to environments with high infection risk, it would be wise to get tested. The Healgen rapid test is one of the most effective COVID-19 lateral flow tests to buy if you want to test yourself at home.

When to Get Tested for COVID?

The first and most important indication that you need a COVID-19 test is at the onset of symptoms. Nowadays, there are rapid antigen tests available such as the Flowflex rapid test kit, for you to do the test at home. These antibody tests work by detecting the protein on the SARS-CoV-2 infection. 

If you suspect you’ve been in contact with an infected person, you should take the test even though you may not show any symptoms. Knowing your current infection status goes a long way in ensuring you take the right steps to protect your loved ones from getting infected. 

Those who work in environments that involve a lot of contact with other people, such as hotels, hospitals, and schools, should also be regularly tested. This is because they are at a higher risk of infection. 

If your tests return positive, the UK Health Security Agency recommends isolating for at least five days. However, this depends on whether the test results show negative readings on the fifth and sixth days. 

The agency further recommends two rapid lateral flow tests on two consecutive days. If each of those tests shows that you are negative, then it means the infection has cleared. If you get a positive reading on the fifth day, you will need to do the tests again on the sixth and seventh days, and so on. 

During the period of your infection, you are advised to stay home if you feel unwell and wear a mask whenever you are in crowded or enclosed spaces. Also, remember to wash your hands regularly and disinfect any surfaces around your home to avoid transmitting the infection to other family members.

When Will a Person Test Negative After Having Covid?

Getting a PCR test after having COVID is one of the most accurate ways to determine if you’ve healed from COVID-19. A positive PCR test after recovery could indicate that the infection is still active in your body, and you may need more time for you to achieve full recovery. If you’ve been isolating and taking care of yourself at home, then it may be time to contact your healthcare provider and seek medical care. 

Sometimes, the infection doesn’t show during the first stages, so even if you get a negative test result, you should take another test after about three days to be sure. However, if you’ve been in quarantine for some time and you get PCR-negative results after many days, then it means you are finally free of the infection. 

However, even after the infection has cleared, you are advised to wear masks and avoid crowded places. This will minimize the chances of reinfection and ensure you do not infect others during the last days of the infection clearing.