POSITIVELY SPEAKING

Positively Speaking: What to Do When You Test Positive for COVID-19

By Pooja Ramchandran, VP Genetic Counselling, MapmyGenome

Imagine this: You were unwell, with a slight temperature and a dry cough. You went to the doctor, they ordered a test, and the test came back positive. What should you make of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2? Keep reading.

What Does a Positive Test Mean?

If you had symptoms and your test report read ‘positive’, it means genetic material from the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was found in your specimen and you have confirmed COVID-19. Quarantine yourself to keep others safe.

If you did not have symptoms and your test report read ‘positive’, you are a confirmed asymptomatic carrier of coronavirus disease. You have the power to spread the infection or prevent transmission — that chance, according to the WHO, is 40%. The recommended, responsible thing to do is to quarantine yourself to keep others safe while you focus on your recovery.

What Happens Next?

It is not possible for a laboratory test to predict severity of illness — the result is only reported as positive (detected) or negative (not detected). However, your doctor can use your test report along with other risk factors (underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, immunosuppression, age) to make an accurate assessment of your COVID-19 risk.

While 80% of individuals with COVID-19 will recover on their own, it is important to speak with your doctor about what symptoms to look out for so that you can proactively monitor your symptoms throughout your illness. Once you’ve recovered, continue to follow recommendations for minimising contact with the coronavirus — washing hands, social distancing, wearing a mask, and stepping out only when necessary.