During this COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a “new normal” every few weeks. We are constantly changing our behavior in response to new public health guidelines, coronavirus variants, or national, state, and local policies.
Whether case numbers and hospitalization rates are trending up or down in our area, we don’t know the future.
When to test yourself for COVID-19
At-home COVID-19 tests use a swab of cells from your nose or throat to look for specific proteins indicating active COVID-19 infection. Results are usually seen in 10 – 20 minutes.
Take-home tests are available for free at many vaccine clinics, and you can order them at no cost from the federal government. Health Insurance policies also cover up to 8 over-the-counter, FDA-approved tests per calendar month per member.
Here are the best times to test yourself:
- Take an at-home test immediately if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, like fever, cough, headache, or muscle pain.
- If exposed to COVID-19, wait at least five days to test yourself.
- If you’re planning to attend an indoor event or gathering, especially around people at high risk, it’s best to test yourself before the gathering.
The recommendations about COVID-19 are frequently changing. So check the CDC’s guidelines to make sure they’re still current.
What if you’ve been exposed, tested positive, or have COVID-19?
According to the CDC:
When to quarantine
If you’ve been exposed, quarantine for at least 5 days. You don’t need to quarantine if you’ve had a booster shot, but you should wear a mask for 10 days. This means staying away from others outside your home.
When to isolate
If you are sick or have tested positive for COVID-19, isolate for at least 5 days. This means avoiding contact with others, even the people you live with.
Cosmo Insurance Agency is a full-service independent insurance agency based in Hackensack (Bergen County) and Lakewood (Ocean County), New Jersey that offers an all-encompassing range of insurance options for both individuals and businesses. Cosmo keeps its promise to assure an efficient and creative approach to the services we offer. Each of our clients experience a personalized and long-term relationship with us. Our New Jersey based team of health brokers guides our clients in helping them choose the most cost-effective options. By incorporating our knowledge of the insurance guidelines for healthcare, employee benefits, life insurance, self-insurance, dental, disability, and long term care insurance, we keep our clients up-to-date with affordable plans that cover all their specific insurance needs.
