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Worried you were exposed to the coronavirus during Thanksgiving? Are you planning to get tested as a precaution?
Well, you should probably wait.
A person who catches the virus often does not see symptoms for five or more days, and testing during this incubation period runs the risk that the disease has not yet reached detectable levels. These false negatives can have dangerous consequences if that person returns to the community and unknowingly spreads the contagion, which is why public health officials recommend delaying testing.
“If you’re tested today, it’s entirely possible that you could test negative and still be infected,” Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist at Montclair State University, said Friday.
Asymptomatic people should wait to be tested for at least five days after their potential exposure, or Tuesday for those concerned about Thanksgiving. People who have symptoms – fever, cough, or shortness of breath – should get checked out immediately. Anyone who suspects they have been infected should be quarantined for safety.
It comes in the midst of a Thanksgiving pandemic that has drastically altered traditional gatherings for many families. AAA has estimated that only 12% of New Jersey residents plan to travel for the holidays, and Gov. Phil Murphy has urged the public to stay home and celebrate only with immediate family members.
New Jersey is already seeing an increase in coronavirus cases, with hospitalizations and patients in intensive care and ventilators all reaching levels that have not been seen in months. Health officials have warned Thanksgiving could further spread COVID-19, especially when paired with the upcoming winter break.
Murphy announced 4,100 new cases of coronavirus and 19 deaths on Friday, bringing the state’s toll to 16,942 people who are believed to have died from COVID-19.
“We are still at the heart of this pandemic”, Murphy said on Twitter. “Protect yourself and your family. Hide yourself. Practice social distancing. “
When will the effects of Thanksgiving show in New Jersey numbers? You will also have to wait for this, given the same delays in the development of the coronavirus.
Silvera estimated that if there is a surge in infections due to the Thursday rallies, it will start showing in one to two weeks. Hospitalizations, even later, would likely increase in three to four weeks, she said. Deaths would be further delayed.
This means the impact of Thanksgiving on the healthcare system will likely be felt around Christmas – another family rite that officials say could ignite the coronavirus.
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Riley Yates can be reached at [email protected].
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