There seem to be more cases of COVID circulating in our community now… so I thought I would share the most common questions and concerns I hear from patients.

• If you develop symptoms it is recommended to test immediately.
• If you have symptoms and your rapid test is negative it is recommended you obtain a PCR test.
• If you do not have symptoms, you should wait at least 5 days after your exposure to do testing.
• If you are vaccinated and do not have symptoms you do not need to isolate before testing.

Yes. Everyone 12 years of age and older can receive an updated COVID booster which targets the new COVID variants. Although your disease may not be as severe, you can still catch COVID and pass it to others who may be more vulnerable.

Some patients believe they need a negative test to return to work. The truth is that once you have a positive test there is no reason to repeat a test. The isolation period is 5 days and can last up to 10 days depending on the severity of your illness. If your isolation ends on day 5, you should intentionally wear a mask whenever you go in public until the full 10 days has elapsed.

Paxlovid is one of the medications used to treat COVID. It is highly recommended for those at risk for disease progression and it significantly decreases the severity of the disease. Do not delay seeking care as this treatment must be started within days of when you first develop symptoms to be effective.

We are now accepting new patients and would love the privilege of serving you in our clinic.