COVID 19 Testing

Dear SVFM Family,

Hospitals and doctor’s offices locally and nationally are being overwhelmed with requests for COVID testing. We have very few COVID tests kits left available for testing in our offices.

Fortunately, this variant is not causing a lot of serious illness in those vaccinated and in those without chronic medical problems. Current CDC recommendations are to quarantine for a minimum of 5 days from the beginning of your symptoms. We are recommending returning to work after these 5 days and as long as your symptoms are improving. The CDC does not recommend retesting to return to work. So, if your work is requiring this, please talk with your HR department.

COVID testing is currently being recommended for those who are elderly, significantly ill and who have chronic medical problems and risk factors. We need to conserve our tests for people in these categories. If your symptoms are consistent with COVID 19, or if you were exposed to COVID 19, testing is not mandatory. The CDC website is very helpful: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html. Please do not call our providers after hours/on-call for non-emergency questions. Thank you for your help during this frustrating time.

- Your Skyview Family Medicine Team

Recent comments from the CDC:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated isolation and quarantine guidance for the general population. People with COVID-19 may end isolation after 5 days if asymptomatic or if their symptoms are resolving. They should continue to wear a mask when around others for an additional 5 days. These recommendations apply regardless of vaccination status. The isolation period was shortened from 10 days because current evidence shows that most SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs closer to the onset of illness, generally in the 1–2 days before and the 2–3 days after symptoms begin.