Rapid Test Equity Coalition (RTEC)  En Español

This video provides easy step-by-step instructions on how to perform a Rapid Antigen Test. There is one key difference between the tests you have received and the tests in the video. The tests in the video have small containers of reagent used for only one test. The tests you have received have a single bottle of reagent to be shared between all of the 40 tests in the box. For more information, read the “Best Time to Test and Other Information” document provided in each test or scroll down to read the document below. Click here for a document of step-by-step instructions

• Right before you gather with friends and family
• If you have symptoms of COVID or are feeling sick
• 5 days after being exposed to someone with COVID

Click here for more information about the tests you have received

What do the results mean?

A POSITIVE test result means it is very likely (99%) that you DO have COVID.

• If you are not sure this test is correct, get a PCR test at a laboratory within the next 48 hours or talk to your doctor but you should still isolate yourself while you wait for results. Do NOT go to any gatherings if you have a positive test!.
• Call Public Health at (707) 565-4667 or use this websiteto report all Positive tests so we can track where cases are rising.
• If you have COVID and need emergency financial assistance, call CURA at (707) 309-8972. Home Isolation Instructions

Home Isolation Instructions

A NEGATIVE test result means that you most likely DO NOT have COVID right now.

• Your level might be too low for this test to detect at this moment.
• If you have COVID symptoms (especially loss of smell or taste), we strongly recommend repeating this test in 1-2 days or getting the more sensitive PCR test. Do NOT go to gatherings when you have symptoms and stay away from anyone in your household who is elderly or unvaccinated.
• With the new Omicron variant we are finding that people who have immunity (due to vaccination or past infection) often have symptoms for a day or two BEFORE they test positive. That is because we feel sick when our body is doing a good job fighting the COVID infection so there is not much virus in the nose for the test to pick up. However, if the virus gets past our defenses, then there will be more virus in the nose and therefore a positive test. So repeat your test in 1-2 days!
• If you have had close contact with someone who tested positive, repeat this test 5 days after exposure, or immediately if you develop symptoms. See What do I do if I test positive or have been exposed to COVID-19?

Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection or lack of symptoms
RECOMMENDED ACTION - ISOLATION

• Stay home for at least 5 days.
• Isolation can end:
• After day 5 if symptoms are not present or are resolving AND a COVID test is negative. Antigen test is preferred.
• After day 10 if unable to test or choosing not to test, and symptoms are not present or are resolving.
• If fever is present, isolation should be continued until fever resolves.
• If symptoms, other than fever, are not resolving, continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until after day 10.
  
  
• Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings and around medically frail or unvaccinated people.
• Stay in a separate room from other household members especially those who are over 65, have health problems or are unvaccinated. If you can’t be in a separate room, wear masks and open windows.
• If you are not completely vaccinated and are over 65 or have medical problems, you may qualify to receive life-saving treatment. Contact a doctor as soon as possible
• Call Public Health at (707) 565-4667 or use this website to report all positive tests so we can track where cases are rising.
• If you have COVID and need emergency financial assistance, call CURA at (707) 309-8972.

Instructions to Self-Isolation and More Information

If your test is negative now but you have been exposed to COVID-19 and you are NOT fully vaccinated AND BOOSTED if you are eligible to be boosted. Includes persons previously infected with COVID, including within the last 90 days.
RECOMMENDED ACTION - QUARANTINE

• Stay home for at least 5 days, after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
• Test on day 5. (Ideally laboratory PCR)
• Quarantine can end:
  • After Day 5 if symptoms are not present and a COVID test is negative.
  • After Day 10 If unable to test or choosing not to test, & symptoms are not present.
• Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings and around medically frail or unvaccinated people.
• If testing positive, follow isolation recommendations above.
• If symptoms develop, test and stay home.
• Consider staying in a separate room from household members who are over 65, have health problems or are unvaccinated. If you can’t be in a separate room, wear masks and open windows.

Video link with Quarantine Instructions
Video in Chatino Language

If your test is negative now but you have been exposed to COVID-19 and you are boosted or you are vaccinated, but not yet booster-eligible.
RECOMMENDED ACTION – NO QUARANTINE

• Test on day 5. (Ideally laboratory PCR)
• Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days, especially in indoor settings and around medically frail or unvaccinated people.
• If testing positive, follow isolation recommendations above.
• If symptoms develop, test and stay home.
• Consider staying in a separate room from household members who are over 65, have health problems or are unvaccinated. If you can’t be in a separate room, wear masks and open windows.

Isolation and Quarantine

Isolation and Quarantine at Home (Self-Isolation and Self-Quarantine)

The following are for people suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 who need to self-isolate and for their exposed close contacts who need to self-quarantine, to prevent spread to others in homes and communities:

• Stay at home except to get medical care.
• Separate yourself from other people in your home. Do not have any visitors.
• Wear a mask over your nose and mouth in indoor settings, including at home, especially if immuno-compromised or around those who are immunocompromised, unvaccinated, or at risk for severe disease.
• Avoid sharing rooms/spaces with others; if not possible, open windows to outdoor air (if safe to do so) to improve ventilation or use portable air cleaners and exhaust fans.
• Avoid using the same bathroom as others; if not possible, clean and disinfect after use.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or if you can't wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Clean or disinfect "high-touch" surfaces.
• Monitor your symptoms.
• If you have symptoms or are sick, you should stay away from others even if they have some protection by having been previously infected in the past 3 months or by being fully vaccinated.
• If you have been exposed and start showing symptoms, test as soon as possible.
  
  
• If a sleeping area is shared with someone who is sick, consider the following recommendations:
• Make sure the room has good air flow and follow
• Maintain at least 6 feet between beds if possible.
• Sleep head to toe, or with faces at least six feet apart.
  
  
• Ask friends and family to bring food or go shopping, and help take care of other essentials of life.

Omicron is very contagious. Cloth masks don’t work well. Everyone needs to upgrade your mask!

California Department of Public Health’s Advice on How to Get the Most out of Masking

How to Fit a Surgical Mask

How to Re-use N95/KN95 Masks

The box that you received has 40 test packets and they expire on January 13, 2022 so you should share them liberally with your friends, neighbors and family! Everyone at your holiday gathering could do a test when they arrive to make sure they don’t have COVID. Your neighbors could test before visiting grandparents. Friends who feel sick after the holidays could test to know if they need to alert the people they were with for the holidays. Really, there are a million ways these tests can be helpful.

However, there is only 1 bottle of reagent so everyone will need to come to you to get tested. You can not hand out the test packets alone because they can not be done without the reagent.

Call us at (707) 240-5740 and we can talk you through how to do a control test and make sure the tests are still good.

https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/testing-and-tracing/

https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/vaccine-information/clinics/
and/or
https://myturn.ca.gov/