If there’s anything we know about coronavirus testing at this point in the pandemic, it’s that there’s a lot we still don’t know. The notoriously inaccurate testing processes can lead to false positives—or even worse, false negatives, which can result in the unintentional spread of COVID-19. Of course, anyone who shows even mild symptoms should be tested immediately, but even those who are seemingly healthy can be doing a good deed by doing so. Infectious disease expert Carl Bergstrom, PhD, of the University of Washington, told CNBC getting checked out before visiting family falls under a category called “clearance testing,” which is especially important for people living in areas where new case numbers may be high And for more on how to tell if you’ve been infected, check out If Your Symptoms Appear In This Order, You Likely Have COVID, Study Says. Getting negative results on a COVID-19 test may make you feel like you’ve dodged a bullet. But with some people staying asymptomatic for days, one faulty screening could be putting your loved ones in danger. “[Testing negative] might give people a feeling of confidence that may be unwarranted,” Steven Pergam, MD, an associate professor in the vaccine and infectious disease division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, told CNBC.
Experts agree that without the proper precautions—like keeping your visits outside in the fresh air—it’s not worth the risk to your relatives. “Unless the visit is outside and either at a safe physical distance or with everyone wearing masks, people should limit exposure to family and friends,” Patrice Harris, MD, psychiatrist and president of the American Medical Association, told CNN. “Without a vaccine, the risk of spread is simply too great.“ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb The hardest part of finally reuniting with loved ones during the pandemic may come down to not actually being able to get physically close to them once you’re together. “Limit hugs and close contact, unless you have done a full quarantine,” William Miller, MD, an epidemiologist at Ohio State University College of Public Health, told NPR. If you absolutely must go in for a hug, consider coming in from behind or turning your faces in different directions as you embrace to avoid breathing on one another. And for more coronavirus guidance from the experts, check out The CDC Just Made a Major Reveal With This New COVID Guideline.
