It just makes sense to get tested for COVID 19 if you’re experiencing the hallmark symptoms, but what about for those who are ‘asymptomatic’, meaning someone who shows no symptoms of the virus?

COVID 19 Incident Commander Cindy Farr tackled that subject on Tuesday’s daily You Tube report.

“The infectious period looks different for symptomatic people versus asymptomatic people,” said Farr. “When someone has symptoms, we can more easily identify the exposure window because we have something really specific that guides us. They might have a cough or a fever, shortness of breath of other symptoms. For symptomatic people, the exposure and evaluation window is 48 hours before the symptom onset up until their date of isolation and monitoring.”

Farr said such a positive test for an asymptomatic person would mean the usual 14 day isolation and quarantine period.

“If they’re not able to get tested, the patient needs to have 10 days pass since their first positive test, and they need to continue not experiencing or exhibiting any symptoms since their first test,” she said. “You might be wondering when an asymptomatic case might be able to be cleared and come out of isolation,” she said. “There are two different routes to consider, whether they will be tested again, or whether they will not be tested again. If someone is going to be tested again, they have to receive two negative tests in a row at least 24 hours apart.”

Farr said there have been a total of 17 deaths from COVID 19 in Montana, and one death in Missoula County.

 

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