Covid-19 Update

In an article published on October 5th, the Oklahoma State Department of Health updated their recommendations for quarantine and isolation guidelines and for testing for Covid-19.

Viral testing that detects the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) RNA is recommended to diagnose acute infection.  The specimen is obtained by nasal swab and results are usually available in about 24 hours.

Antibody testing, performed on blood specimens including finger stick tests, is not FDA-approved for the diagnosis of acute infection.  These tests provide little information to the individual tested, but when results are available from a large number of people, antibody tests provide public health officials with important information for assessing transmission rates in the general population.

Viral testing is recommended for:

  • Individuals with signs or symptoms consistent with Covid-19

  • Asymptomatic individuals with recent known or suspected exposure to SARS-CoV-19

  • Individuals being tested for purposes of public health surveillance for SARS-CoV-19.  

Exposed individuals should complete a 14-day quarantine period following their last 

potential exposure.  A negative test obtained during the quarantine period does NOT mean that the individual will not develop illness later in the quarantine period.

Individuals exposed to Covid-19 should wait a minimum of 2 days following their first exposure before getting their first test.  If the first test is negative, serial, or repeated tests can be helpful, as recommended by the individual’s physician.

Individuals testing positive for Covid-19 and found to have mild to moderate symptoms should immediately begin isolation and remain in isolation for 10 days after the first onset of symptoms.  A test-based strategy for ending isolation is no longer recommended.

For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/testing-overview.html