New Providence Residents (only) are asked to self-report any positive cases resulting from At Home Rapid Tests to the New Providence Public Health Nurse at newprovphn@gmail.com so the proper contact tracing can take place. Please include your name, phone number and any questions you may have.
People who have symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status or history of infection, should get tested, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you suspect you have been in close contact with someone who had COVID-19, meaning, you were within 6 feet of a person with a confirmed case for 15 minutes or more, you should get tested.
If you present with COVID-19 symptoms, and want to see if you have COVID, rapid tests are quite reliable and can offer similar accuracy as a PCR test. The sensitivity of rapid antigen tests can change depending on the course of infection and viral load. A higher viral load, which is usually a few days after infection, usually gives the most accurate results. If rapid tests fail to detect enough antigens, they may produce a false negative. A PCR test, that is sent to the lab, is always going to be more accurate.
If you or someone you have been in contact with, has tested positive for COVID-19, the New Jersey Isolation and Quarantine Calculator can help guide you with self-isolation or quarantine time-lines until you can speak with a healthcare professional.
Coronavirus COVID-19 medical technician professional doctor hand giving a swab test.