Are you an Orlando, Florida resident who has never been tested for COVID-19 before? If yes, we have this to say: congratulations! That means you have successfully kept yourself and your family safe during this whole pandemic. And since lockdowns are being lifted left and right, there’s no longer any reason to be afraid, right? You don’t have to get tested anymore, since the pandemic is pretty much over!
Well, not exactly. There are still plenty of reasons for you to head on over to the nearest COVID test site in your area. Read on for when you should get a COVID-19 test.
Reason 1: You are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 might appear anywhere between 2 and 14 days (the incubation period or phase) after you get the virus. Early symptoms include but are not limited to the following:
- Fever
- Cough
- Tiredness
The above symptoms may just be that you’re tired, you lack sleep, and so on. However, if you are feeling the symptoms below, you might want to really consider getting tested:
- Shortness of breath
- The disappearance of the ability to taste and smell
- Aches and Pains in the Body
- Chills
- Throat discomfort and runny nose
- Headache
- Chest pains
- Conjunctivitis
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rashes all over the body
Do remember that this is not a comprehensive list, but if you’re checking off on a lot of these, it might be time to consult with your doctor about looking for a COVID test in Orlando. Even if you don’t feel like you have it, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Reason 2: You have been exposed to known or suspected cases of COVID-19
Let’s say you were in a recent gathering with friends. A week after the gathering, one of your friends calls you to say that they tested positive for the virus. You might feel a little panicked after knowing that, but try to stay calm as much as possible. After that, it’s time to Google “COVID test near me” and get yourself tested.
And even in the absence of symptoms, you might still have it. There are some people who are asymptomatic but are positive for it. You might be one of those people but remember, COVID is a highly transmissible virus. So again, better safe than sorry. Besides, you don’t want to be passing it on to other people, especially to your friends and loved ones.
Reason 3: You need confirmation of your test results.
So let’s say you were feeling symptoms of COVID-19 or you have been exposed to a known COVID case. So you Googled “rapid test near me” and got a rapid test. Now you have the results. You can breathe easy if it’s negative, or call the doctor if you got a positive result. Done, right?
Well, here’s something you have to remember: a rapid test is not as accurate as an RT-PCR test. That’s the reason the RT-PCR is the gold standard in COVID-19 testing. Rapid tests can give false negatives or false positives. And remember, as mentioned above, it’s possible for you to be asymptomatic. And if you don’t plan on isolating yourself for 7 to 14 days just to be sure you’re no longer infectious, you should get confirmation of your test results.
Reason 4: It’s a work requirement
While you might not think there’s a reason to get tested for COVID anymore, your employer might think otherwise. They can make it a work requirement for you. It would be better to call your HR department and ask about this, especially if you are now all being called back to the office. You might feel safer if you and your officemates get tested before coming back in. Plus, the government might be requiring it as well and might penalize your employer if this is not put into practice.
It also depends on where you work. For example, if you’re a school teacher, your school might require you to get tested because you want to be sure that you’re not passing on the virus to your students. Or if you’re part of a production crew, you’ll probably also need to get tested. Nowadays, a lot of productions are done in a bubble until the end of shooting, so companies would want you (and everyone you work with) to be negative for COVID before you come to work. It wouldn’t be good for anyone to be in a bubble with someone who is COVID positive, right?
Reason 5: It’s a requirement for traveling
Now that lockdowns of various countries are being lifted, you might now be making up for lost time by coming up with new travel plans. Well, be sure to include COVID testing in those plans, as most countries are requiring negative tests for you to enter (aside from isolating for a few days). And once you get back to Florida, you’re also going to need to present a negative test before getting allowed back in.
What happens if you’re positive for COVID-19?
You might be wondering what could happen if you’re positive and you don’t get treated for COVID. Is it really that bad? Can’t you just isolate? And do you really need a test?
Well, think about this: some people have various health difficulties even after COVID is gone from their system. Some have even died due to complications of having the virus, even after the virus is gone. Children who were infected with COVID-19 have been reported to have developed a multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which may cause harm to several organs and tissues.
The likelihood of acquiring a serious illness caused by COVID-19 increases as a person gets older. Individuals who are chronically sick may also be at increased risk. COVID-19 also has the potential to cause major illness in those who have specific medical conditions, such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Heart illness
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart illness
- Cancer
- Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD)
- Diabetes type 1 or diabetes type 2
- Blood pressure that is above normal
- Smoking
- Chronic kidney disease
- Sickle cell disease and thalassemia.
- Liver illnesses
- Dementia
- Strokes and other ailments of the brain
In short, COVID is something that should be taken seriously. And of course, if you’re experiencing symptoms, do not ignore them – call emergency services especially if you think you are having a life-threatening emergency.
Get tested today at Orlando COVID Test.
If you meet any of the requirements for a COVID test, there’s no better place to go to than Orlando COVID Test. Orlando COVID Test is a locally owned physician practice that provides both fast and accurate COVID testing in a clinic that is conveniently located in the Kissimmee area, less than an hour away from Orlando.
Our clinic is staffed by only the most pleasant, experienced, and professional medical staff. We do not only RT-PCR tests, we also do rapid testing (Abbott NAAT and lateral flow). You’ll get results in as little as 15 minutes, guaranteed. We can also do mobile testing at your request and for your convenience.
We look forward to serving you and helping you with COVID testing.
