Should I get tested if I have no symptoms? Your COVID-19 questions answered
Widespread coronavirus testing has helped health professionals understand the severity and the spread of the virus in the Myrtle Beach area over the last two months.
It is not uncommon for people to be infected with COVID-19 and have no symptoms or experience mild symptoms. But at what point should you go get tested? The Sun News has complied a list of questions and answers from local hospital officials to help you decide if you should get tested, what a test is like and where you can get one.
Should I still go get tested if I have no symptoms?
Even if you have no symptoms, it’s important to be tested, said Dawn Bryant, spokesperson with Tidelands Health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates up to 40 percent of COVID-19 transmissions happen before people feel sick, Bryant said.
“Community testing helps health leaders better understand the impact COVID-19 is having on the community and provides a convenient way for individuals to know whether they have the virus,” Bryant said in an email to The Sun News.
Tidelands Health has conducted more than 10,000 free tests at clinics across the Grand Strand since the start of the pandemic, with its biggest testing event to date at Coastal Carolina University on Friday when health officials planned to test 2,500 people.
If I’ve had the virus, should I still wear a face mask even if I’m not contagious anymore?
Yes, you should still wear a face mask and “hold fast” to all recommendations, said Dr. Paul Richardson, Vice President for Medical Affairs at Conway Medical Center.
Other recommendations health officials encourage are washing your hands often and practicing social distancing.
How are tests administered?
Coronavirus tests are typically administered with a cotton swab in the nasal cavity. Some clinics administer throat swabs and other clinics require patients to administer nasal swabs to themselves.
How long should I quarantine if I test positive for COVID-19?
Patients should isolate themselves for 10 to 14 days after the onset of coronavirus symptoms, Richardson said. A patient needs a minimum of three days with no symptoms before returning to work or visiting public places, he said.
How long will it take to get my test results back?
Test results can take between 2 and 14 days to be returned to patients, depending on the volume of tests being administered, according to CMC.
Where can I get tested?
There are several places around the Grand Strand offering free testing clinics. CVS Pharmacy is offering free drive-thru testing, where you administer the test yourself, at Myrtle Beach area locations. Test sites are at the 38th Avenue North, Socastee Boulevard and Highway 17 in Surfside locations. Patients must register online to schedule an appointment before showing up to test sites.
Tidelands Health will have free community testing beginning at 10 a.m. on July 17 and July 31 as supplies last. Both testing sites are at the Pelicans Stadium in Myrtle Beach.
Conway Medical Center currently has no community testing events planned.
What can I do if I have more questions about COVID-19?
If you have general questions about the coronavirus, you can call the DHEC Care Line at 855-472-3432.
Conway Medical Center offers a phone line where you can speak with a medical professional to be screened for COVID-19. The line is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at 843-428-8767, and you can speak with a registered nurse.
Tidelands also offers a virtual screening with MUSC. Here is more information.
This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 12:49 PM.
