My family member tested positive, but I was negative. Do I need to keep testing and if so at what intervals?
For those taking at-home tests after being exposed to COVID-19, the FDA now recommends testing multiple times over the course of a few days to ensure that the initial negative test result is accurate. After taking your first at-home test and receiving a negative result, wait for 48 hours and then test again. If it is negative again, then wait another 48 hours to test one final time. If at any point you have COVID-19 symptoms but are still receiving negative antigen test results, you may want to get a PCR-based test from a healthcare provider to make sure of your negative result.
Vaccine Status
Vaccinated
+ –If your family member tested positive and you are up to date on your vaccinations, then you can monitor yourself for symptoms and test yourself in 5 days. There is no need to quarantine with your positive family member during those 5 days if you are vaccinated, but you should still take the precautions of wearing masks in the home and being in separate living spaces to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You will want to get tested 5 days after your most recent exposure to your family member. If their symptoms last for a prolonged period of time (greater than 10 days), you may want to test yourself every 3-5 days. Several factors may influence your decision to test more frequently, such as whether you need to work in-person, whether you visit high-risk or immunocompromised people, or if you need to send children into school. Once your family member is fever-free for 5 days (without fever-reducing medication) and their symptoms are improving, you will not need to test yourself as frequently.
Unvaccinated
+ –If you are not vaccinated or not up to date on your vaccinations, then you will need to quarantine due to your exposure to your positive family member for at least 5 days. You will want to get tested 5 days after your most recent exposure to your family member. If their symptoms last for a prolonged period of time (greater than 10 days), you may want to test yourself every 3-5 days. Several factors may influence your decision to test more frequently, such as whether you need to work in-person, whether you visit high-risk or immunocompromised people, or if you need to send children into school. Once your family member is fever-free for 5 days (without fever-reducing medication) and their symptoms are improving, you will not need to test yourself as frequently.
This question appears in: Children Gatherings/Events I was recently exposed Schools Work
