The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines have been approved to protect against severe illness. This page will be updated to include information and resources for everyone 6 months and older to get vaccinated. These vaccines will be available in San Diego sometime in September and October.

COVID-19 Testing

Page last updated 8/6/2024.

There are many ways you can test to see if you have COVID-19:

  • Contact your healthcare provider.
  • Visit your local drug store.
  • Find a testing site in your community. 

If you do not have a healthcare provider and would like to get connected to one, call 2-1-1. If you have serious symptoms, like difficulty breathing, call 9-1-1.

See below, or click the following links, for more information:

How to Get Tested

Use an At-Home Test

Person holding an at-home/self test.

At-home, or self-tests, are antigen tests that can be taken anywhere. They give results in less than 30 minutes.

  • Detects current infection.
  • Buy in stores, pharmacies, and online.
  • Most at-home tests can be safely used past the date on the box. Check to see if your COVID-19 tests' expiration dates have been extended on the FDA website.
  • Follow all the instructions inside the at-home/self-test. If you do not follow the instructions, your test result may be incorrect.

 

Get a COVID-19 Test

Where to Get a COVID-19 Test

Where to Get a COVID-19 Test

When to Get Tested

  • If you have symptoms, test immediately. 
    • If your first test is negative, test again 2 days after the negative test. 
    • If your second test is negative and you are still concerned about COVID-19, take a third test at least 2 days later. Or, get a laboratory test that your doctor can order for you.
  • If you are at higher risk of severe disease, or have contact with people who are at higher risk, and you were exposed to COVID-19 but do not have symptoms, consider testing:
    • Within 5 days after the last exposure date, and 
    • Prior to contact with high​​er risk people (including adults 50+ or those with weakened immunity). 
    • If you test negative, consider testing again 1 to 2 days after your first test. If you test too early, you may be more likely to get an inaccurate result. 
  • Post-exposure testing is not recommended if you were infected with COVID-19 in the last 30 days and do not have symptoms. 
    • Testing is recommended for all people with new symptoms of COVID-19.

Testing at work:

Understanding Test Results

If your test result is:

Positive:

  • The virus was detected, and you have, or recently had, an infection.
  • Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms until:
    • You have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication, AND 
    • Other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving.
  • Watch for symptoms. If you have any emergency warning signs, seek emergency care immediately.
  • When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as:
    • Wearing masks, 
    • Physical distancing, and/or 
    • Testing when you will be around other people indoors.
  • Seek treatment. Contact your healthcare provider, community health center, or pharmacy as soon as you test positive.
  • For more information, visit If You Are Sick With a Respiratory Virus.

Negative:

  • The virus was not detected, but this does not rule out an infection.
  • If you have symptoms:
    • You may have COVID-19, but tested before the virus was detectable. 
    • You may have another illness.
    • Take everyday preventive precautions to prevent spreading an illness to others.
    • Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms worsen.
  • If you do not have symptoms but were exposed, follow respiratory virus prevention strategies.
  • If you do not have symptoms and you have not been exposed, continue normal activities.

Reporting an At-Home/Self-Test Result

  • Reporting is not required. If you need medical care, it may be helpful to share your result with your healthcare provider.
  • You can safely and privately report COVID-19 home test results at MakeMyTestCount.org

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