This is a question that many of us will be forced to answer in the upcoming days, weeks, and months…
There can be considerable confusion and often conflicting information from authorities on this topic.
Here is the background thought process…
Early in an epidemic there exists a window of time where testing for disease can change the trajectory of the disease in the community. As that window closes, mitigation tactics, such as isolation and quarantine become a much more effective strategy.
While testing can be useful, many experts believe that the window for testing to meaningfully impact the trajectory of Coronavirus spread in the United States is closing. This opinion is due to several factors including but not limited to:
- The amount of time the virus has been spreading in the community
- The speed at which the virus spreads
- The amount of time is has taken for testing to be widely available
- The limited number of tests available
- The required criteria for performing a test on an individual
- The time it takes to receive test results (currently averaging 4-5 days)
It appears that the United States may be at the tipping point where mitigation tactics start to become more important than testing.
Public Health officials are offering practical advice:
People with mild or moderate symptoms should avoid going to your doctor’s office or a hospital to try to get tested for coronavirus unless you have severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath.
In other words, according to NPR:
Stay home. Stay home. Stay home, already. It might be boring advice, but it’s critical to stopping the spread of whatever you have. And you don’t need to wait for a COVID-19 test or a doctor’s instructions to do it.
At the other end of the spectrum, if you have shortness of breath, of course you should be evaluated immediately in the Emergency Room of your local hospital.
If you are uncertain what to do, a telehealth appointment, or virtual office visit by video can be helpful in determining your risk and helping advise the best course of action. Altitude Family & Internal Medicine and many other physician offices offer this service. If your health care provider does not offer virtual visits, even a few minutes on the phone with your doctor could help.
Additionally, drive-through testing is now available in many communities including in the Denver area with an order from your doctor. This allows a person who meets testing requirements but does not require hospitalization to be tested while still maintaining a reasonable level of isolation.