I Would Rather Know
In August Greg and I volunteered with Ramsey County Public Health to be photographed, filmed, and interviewed by local news stations as we were getting swab tests for COVID-19. They wanted to get the word out, particularly to underserved and ethnic minority communities, about the weekly free testing conducted in community settings. We volunteered because we believe in the effectiveness of testing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. At that time, I had no idea that I would end up being a case to prove the need for testing.
The test I took on October 30 was my third this year. While the first two were negative, this one turned out positive. At the time of the test I had no symptoms, had not been with anyone that was symptomatic, and had been careful about following social distancing and mask-wearing protocol. If I had not tested that day, I would still be going about my planned activities. Just within this week, I would have passed out candy to neighborhood kids, made dinner for my family, greeted people at the church door and attended Sunday service with them, participated at a costume carnival, and spoken at a local college. Unknowingly I would have exposed many people to the virus and could have infected some of them. As difficult as it was to receive the news of the positive result, I would rather know and be able to take the proper steps to help myself and others.
The hardest thing was informing the dozen people that I had been in close contact with and asking them to go get tested. I felt the need to apologize for both the exposure and the inconvenience of testing. Yet, I would rather be honest with them and inconvenience them now than to find out later that because they didn’t know they had been exposed, they then infected their own family and friends. Honestly, waiting to hear from my family, friends, and colleagues about their test results was quite nerve-wrecking. But everyone was so gracious and understanding. Many said that it could have just as easily been they who were positive and didn’t know it.
To my great relief, all but one of the close contacts tested negative. That individual was also asymptomatic and had no idea they were infected, so it is virtually impossible to determine whether one of us infected the other or if each of us was infected by totally separate sources.
What the Research Tells Us
In the July issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases* researchers examined COVID data from the outbreak in China. They estimated that it takes about four days for an infected person to exhibit any symptoms. And contrary to the previous number of two to three, the new estimate is that an infected individual will infect an average of five to six other people. In that pre-symptomatic time, the person usually does not know they are infected and contagious. Only a test would tell the pre-symptomatic person that they are indeed infected, so they can isolate and quarantine from other people, thereby preventing further spread of the virus.
As a pastor’s wife and lay leader at our church, I am also cognizant of the fact that in-person worship services fall under the category of “superspreading” events, large gatherings where a single infected person can infect a large number of people, thus resulting in clusters of infection that can go well beyond the 6-7 person infection rate. This is another reason to take pre-emptive measures and get frequent testing done, especially for anyone who regularly participates in superspreading events. (I will tackle the topic of large events in another post.)
Getting Tested in Minnesota
Those of us who live in Minnesota are fortunate, because COVID-19 testing has been a priority for the state. In addition to the clinic and hospital testing sites that take insurance, there are free community testing events and sites. I especially want you to know about the newest testing opportunity. This past month has seen the implementation of community saliva testing sites scattered around the state. Here’s information from the Minnesota Department of Health’s website:
The test is more comfortable than a nasal swab, and available at no cost to anyone who believes they need a COVID-19 test.
Saliva testing is free and available to all Minnesotans who believe they need to be tested, with or without symptoms.
Identification is not required. You do need to have an email address and phone number to receive your results.
Insurance is not required. If you do have insurance, you will need to show your card. The test is completely free whether or not you have insurance, and you will not receive a bill.
Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. You can sign up for an appointment time below to reduce wait time. You may also come to a testing site without an appointment.
Saliva testing may not be right for those with low saliva production, such as children under age 4 or someone who has suffered a stroke.
What to Expect at the Saliva Community Testing Site
Photo Courtesy of Alicia Thoj. Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul, MN
I found the whole process of getting tested quite easy to follow. All the necessary information is on the website, as is the link to make an appointment. There is also an app that you can download to make the appointment process even easier. Keep in mind that if you need to get a test done right away, the sites do take walk-ins. (My close contacts were able to get tested the very next morning as walk-ins!) Clearly one needs to be proficient in English and with a smart phone to utilize this testing process or go test with someone who is.
When you arrive at the site, there will be two lines: Appointments and Walk-Ins. A worker will provide you with a test tube-like vial with preprinted barcodes. You will be directed to an open table where you will collect your saliva sample. You will need a smart phone to access the Vault Health website where you will input your contact information and the vial label number. If you don’t have a smart phone, the site will provide you with one to use. You will also need an email address where the test result will be emailed. If you need assistance, there are workers roaming around who can help.
For some people, it can be a challenge to produce enough saliva on the spot. Greg said he had to work extra hard to fill up his vial. I didn’t have any problem with it, but I was planning to imagine lemons if my mouth needed some inspiration. Once you have collected your sample, you will drop it off at the collection table on your way out. That’s it! You will receive an initial email once the laboratory has received your test sample. Although you are told that you will have your results within 24-72 hours, most of the people I’ve talked to have gotten their results within 24 hours.
Get Tested
I don’t know about you, but for me, I’d rather know whether I was COVID-free or infected. So much depends upon that health status! As I write this post, my husband, Greg, has received his second negative result since I tested positive. He tested on November 1 and again on November 4. He will continue to test a couple more times until I test negative again and come out of quarantine. In this way, we will know for sure that he has remained uninfected even after being in the same house with me.
There is no shame in getting a test done! It doesn’t mean you have symptoms. It doesn’t even mean you suspect you have been infected. As the Minnesota Department of Health states, it’s for “anyone who believes they need a COVID-19 test.” Knowing whether you are positive or negative for COVID is not just for your peace of mind but also for the health and wellbeing of those you work with, serve, and care for. I encourage everyone to get tested!
*Sanche, S., Lin, Y., Xu, C., Romero-Severson, E., Hengartner, N., & Ke, R. (2020). High Contagiousness and Rapid Spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 26(7), 1470-1477. https://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2607.200282.
