As we learn more about COVID-19, recommendations and guidance are updated frequently. Please check back often.
What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result
Download for print:
What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result (PDF)
Updated 3/24/21
- What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result in Amharic (PDF)
- What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result in Arabic (PDF)
- What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result in Chinese (PDF)
- What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result in Hmong (PDF)
- What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result in Karen (PDF)
- What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result in Lao (PDF)
- What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result in Oromo (PDF)
- What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result in Russian (PDF)
- What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result in Somali (PDF)
- What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result in Spanish (PDF)
- What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result in Vietnamese (PDF)
On this page:
After you get tested
If your test is positive
If your test is negative
After you get tested
- Stay home and away from others if:
- You have symptoms.
- Someone in your home has COVID-19.
- You’ve been close to someone with COVID-19.
- If you don’t have symptoms and have not been close to someone with COVID-19, you don’t need to stay home while you wait for your test results. Wear a mask and stay 6 feet from people who don’t live with you. If you start to feel any symptoms, stay home and away from others.
- Start making a plan for what you will do if you have a positive test because you will need to stay home for at least 10 days.
- Make a list of people you have been in close contact with recently. Tell them you may have COVID-19 and they should stay away from others until they hear from you.
- If you were tested because you were in contact with someone who has COVID-19, stay home and away from others, even if you do not have symptoms. COVID-19 can take up to 14 days to make you sick, and some people never feel sick.
- If you were tested for an upcoming medical procedure and you do not have symptoms, you do not have to stay home while waiting for your test results.
- It may take several days to get your test results back. You will receive test results by email, text and/or telephone call.
If your test is positive
- This means you currently have COVID-19.
- Stay home. A public health worker will call you. It is important that you answer their phone call. They will ask you questions about possible exposures to COVID-19, such as people you have been in direct contact with and places you have visited.
- Monitor your symptoms. If they get worse, contact your health care provider. Tell them you were tested for COVID-19.
- They will also give you more information about what you should do and how long you should stay home.
If your test is negative
- This means you do not currently have COVID-19. However, you could still be exposed or become sick at any time. You should continue to take steps to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
- If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, talk to your doctor or other health care provider about getting tested again.
COVID-19 Public Hotline:
For questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, call 1-833-431-2053
Mon.-Fri.: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sat.: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Mental Health Crisis Line - Call: **CRISIS (**274747)
COVID-19 information in other languages:
- Kab Mob Khaus Las Nas Vais Lav 2019 (COVID-19)
(Hmong) - Cudurka Koronafayras 2019 (COVID-19)
(Somali) - Enfermedad del Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
(Spanish) - American Sign Language (ASL) Videos
Contact us:
If you have questions or comments about this page, use our IDEPC Comment Form or call 651-201-5414 for the MDH Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division.