HANCOCK, MI— The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department is offering guidance regarding home COVID tests.
Officials say if you test positive at home, isolate for five days from the start of your symptoms… or if you have no symptoms, from the day you took the test. Tell all your close contacts they’ve been exposed and should quarantine as recommended. End your isolation only after your symptoms have improved and you’ve had no fever for 24 hours, and continue to mask for another five days.
Officials say while home tests are great tools for early detection and prevention, the results can’t be verified. They’re only considered suspect cases and aren’t included in total case counts. A follow-up lab test is recommended if you need documentation for return-to-work letters.
Due to resource shortages, the Western U-P Health Department is not currently asking residents to report positive home tests to the agency.