Yesterday my college roommate texted me that she tested positive. Her daughter is giving birth to her first baby on Thursday, and she planned to be in the operating room as her mother was when her daughter was born. That is now not to be. The new Omicron variant is spreading like wildfire. If you haven’t yet gotten fully vaccinated including the booster, get it now. A new report says that the J&J vaccine is not very effective for the new variant and those who received it should get either the Pfizer or Moderna booster. If you do test positive, the information below will help you.
Testing and Quarantine
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention are the same whether you are unvaccinated, vaccinated or boosted. If you test positive from a rapid or PCR test you must quarantine immediately for 10 days.
Isolation
Isolation is necessary. Ideally in a room with a private bath. Avoid or limit contact with other household members. Everyone in the household should wear a high-quality mask. To isolate properly, you should have a thermometer, pulse oximeter (measures oxygen level), ibuprofen or acetaminophen and plenty of fluids.
Should I Call My Doctor or Go to a Hospital?
If your symptoms are mild, there is no need to call your doctor unless you want reassurance. IF you have a high fever for several days, difficulty breathing or chest pain, or an inability to eat or drink. The loss of smell and taste may last more than 10 days. You should go to the emergency room if you have severe shortness of breath or chest pain. You should also check your oxygen levels several times a day even if you are not short of breath. According to the CDC, normal oxygen level is between 95% and 100%.
Negative Test Result During the 10 Day Quarantine Period
Do not stop isolating; continue through the 10-day period.
Day 11 Forward
According to the Cleveland Clinic, patients often have fatigue and other symptoms beyond 10 days but if they are improving, isolation is not necessary. People who have compromised systems or are severely ill may need to isolate longer.
Who Needs to be Informed and Quarantined?
The new metric is anyone the patient was within six feet of for 6.5 (not 15) minutes or more within 24 hours must be informed. Those contacts who are vaccinated or boosted do not have to quarantine unless they are symptomatic. Contacts who are unvaccinated need to quarantine for 10 – 14 days depending on their local health jurisdiction.
What to do Next
There is support that the booster is key to protection against the Omicron variant. If you do have COVID you’ll need to wait until you’re fully recovered to get the vaccine. Other variants are coming. Make sure you and your family are safe by being up to date with the vaccines and boosters.
Whatever it takes, Personal Affairs Management Group is here to make your holiday as joyful and carefree as possible.
Our mission is to make your life simple, secure, reduce stress and get things done. We specialize in helping all aspects of the day-to-day of busy professionals, families and seniors. We have a team devised to tackle and manage concerns that many may have. If you have questions or need information about you or your loved one’s life management issues, please reach out to us. We are here to make your life simple, secure and stress-free. We are available 24/7. Call us at 305-646-1833 or email us at Corrine@mypersonalaffairsmanagement.com.