Newly Diagnosed?
Finding out that you have tested positive for COVID-19 can be alarming. There are resources that can help you. You can also help prevent spreading coronavirus to your loved ones or others in your community.
Isolation Guidance
This guidance is based on the latest CDC recommendations, which can be found here.
All individuals who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, should complete isolation.
What does isolation mean?
- You must stay home except to get medical care.
- You may not go to work or school and should tell your employer or school that you tested positive.
- You should stay in a separate room from other household members and use a separate bathroom, if possible.
- You should wear a well-fitting mask if you have to be in a room with others.
- Follow your health care provider’s guidance.
How long will isolation last?
The length of your isolation will depend on how serious your COVID-19 symptoms were.
- If you had no symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5
- If you had symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5 if:
- You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) AND
- Your symptoms are improving
Day 0 is the day your symptoms started OR the day you tested positive if you do not have symptoms. Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.
If COVID caused you moderate or severe illness (shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or hospitalization), or if you have a weakened immune system, you should isolate through day 10.
What are emergency warning signs to look out for?
If you have any emergency warning signs for COVID-19, seek medical attention immediately. These include:
- trouble breathing
- persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- new confusion
- inability to wake or stay awake
- pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
- severe abdominal pain
These are not all possible symptoms. Seek medical attention for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning. Call 911 if you have a medical emergency and tell the operator that you have COVID-19.
When can I remove my mask after isolation?
- After 5 days of isolation, if you are feeling better (no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms improving), you may end isolation but should continue to wear your mask through day 10.
- You can remove your mask sooner than day 10 if you have two negative rapid at-home antigen tests 48 hours apart.
- You should continue to monitor your symptoms for an additional 5 days.
- If you cannot wear a well-fitting mask while around others through Day 10, you should remain in isolation through Day 10.
What happens if my COVID symptoms come back again after day 5?
- After you have ended isolation, if you develop COVID-19 symptoms for the first time or your COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, restart your isolation at day 0.
- Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about your symptoms or when to end isolation.
What else can I do to protect those around me?
- Use this CDC resource to identify who your close contacts are.
- We encourage you to confidentially and anonymously notify your close contacts of exposure using the TellYourContacts.org site.
Please answer the call from MD COVID or (240) 466-4488, the text from 51454 or email from mdh.ctsurvey@maryland.gov to help Maryland contact tracers slow the spread of COVID-19.
Reporting At-Home Test Results
COVID-19 self-tests are one of many risk-reduction measures, along with vaccination, masking, and physical distancing, that protect you and others by reducing the chances of spreading COVID. If you take an at-home test and your results are positive, you should communicate your results to your healthcare provider and let your close contacts know they were exposed to COVID-19.
You can report your positive test results either through the mobile app associated with your at-home test, or through the Maryland COVID Positive At-Home Test Report Portal. Log in on the portal’s home page to submit a report. If you do not have login information, you may register to create an account.
Reporting positive results through the At-Home Test Report Portal will initiate the contact tracing process, which is required to receive work or school excuse and release letters.
COVID-19 Treatment Options
If you test positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible to receive free and potentially life-saving treatments. The key to effective treatment in most cases is to test early and begin treatment as soon as possible after any symptoms begin.
Talk to your healthcare provider as soon as you test positive to see if you—or your COVID-19-positive family member—may be eligible to receive antiviral COVID-19 treatment.
Answer the call
If you have been recently diagnosed with COVID-19, you should expect a call, text or email from a contact tracer. Through contact tracing, we can better understand disease transmission, prevent new infections, and help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Additional Resources for Isolation & Post-Exposure Precautions
Use TellYourContacts.Org to anonymously notify your contacts.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible to receive free and potentially life-saving treatments. The key to effective treatment in most cases is to test early and begin treatment as soon as possible after any symptoms begin.
