Key Takeaways
- COVID-19 shares similar symptoms with other respiratory infections.
- If you're symptomatic but test negative, it's important to take appropriate precautions.
- Per the CDC, you can leave your home after being fever-free for 24 hours without the help of medications AND if symptoms are improving.
- Takeadditional precautions for five days following isolation, such as wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and washing your hands often.
It’s always concerning to feel unwell because symptoms like coughing or a runny nose can mean anything—seasonal allergies, the flu, or even COVID-19.
Amesh Adalja, MD, an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told Verywell that it’s hard to tell respiratory infections apart without diagnostic testing because many symptoms overlap.
A negative result from a COVID-19 rapid test is usually enough to ease worries, but one test isn’t enough to rule it out. One negative result could mean that you don’t have a contagious amount of the virus at the time of testing, even if you do have COVID-19 already, Adalja said.
If you have COVID-like symptoms but test negative, it's important to take precautions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you test positive for COVID or have symptoms of a respiratory viral infection:
- Isolate at home until you've been fever-free for 24 hours (without the help of medication) AND your symptoms are mild and improving.
- Takeadditional precautions for five days following isolation, such as wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and washing your hands often.
Irfan Hafiz, MD, an infectious diseases expert at Northwestern Medicine, told Verywell that community prevalence could help determine whether your symptoms are that of a seasonal problem.
The CDC’s flu activity map, for example, can tell you if your region has had a high rate of flu cases in the last week.
If you’re still unsure whether you have COVID, you can take over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen for symptom relief, Hafiz said. In the meantime, it’s best to stay home until you've been fever-free for 24 hours without the help of medications AND if your symptoms are improving.
There is currently no preventive medication for COVID-19. However, you can help reduce the risk of severe illness by staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
At times of high community prevalence of COVID-19, Hafiz said it’s best to avoid overcrowded situations and wear a mask in public.
What This Means For You
If you feel sick but you test negative for COVID-19, it’s recommended that you stay home until you've been fever-free for 24 hours without the help of medications AND if symptoms are improving. You should also takeadditional precautions for five days following isolation. This includes wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and washing your hands often.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
By Carla Delgado
Delgado is a health and culture writer specializing in health, science, and environmental sustainability.
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FAQs
“If you're feeling sick, there really should be no difference whether you're testing positive for COVID-19, flu or RSV,” he said. “If you're feeling sick, stay home, take care of yourself. If you're in a high-risk group, seek medical attention so you can get some advice as to what to do.
What should I do if I test negative for COVID-19 but still experiencing symptoms? ›
If you have COVID-like symptoms but test negative, it's important to take precautions. Isolate at home until you've been fever-free for 24 hours (without the help of medication) AND your symptoms are mild and improving.
Why am i testing negative but have COVID symptoms? ›
If your COVID-19 test is negative
If you have symptoms: You may have COVID-19 but tested before the virus was detectable. You may have another viral infection or illness. Take actions to help protect yourself and others from health risks caused by respiratory viruses.
Can you still feel ill from COVID after testing negative? ›
If your test is negative but you still have symptoms, you should take another test on each of the next 2 days (3 tests in total over 3 days). If you continue to feel unwell, you should seek healthcare advice via your GP or NHS 111.
How long after testing negative for COVID are you contagious? ›
You can be with others after you receive two negative test results in a row, at least 24 hours apart.
Can your body fight off COVID-19 without testing positive? ›
Antibodies and other viruses
Another reason an exposed person may test negative is that vaccination or prior infection has created antibodies. In these cases, when someone is exposed to the virus, those antibodies are activated and rapidly clear the virus before they become infected or symptomatic.
How common is a false negative COVID test? ›
In particular, false-positive testing is exceedingly uncommon, though false negatives occur among asymptomatic persons — such cases tend to have high cycle threshold values, suggesting lower viral loads.
Can I leave isolation if I test negative? ›
If your test result is positive, you should continue to isolate until day 10. If your test result is negative, you can end isolation, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public until day 10. Follow additional recommendations for masking and restricting travel described above.
What's the quickest way to get rid of COVID symptoms? ›
How to look after COVID-19 symptoms yourself
- get lots of rest.
- drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear)
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable.
- try having a teaspoon of honey if you have a cough – do not give honey to babies under 12 months.
At-home COVID-19 tests produce a high percentage of false negative results because they are less sensitive than PCR tests. PCR tests are accurate nearly 99% of the time. Antigen tests don't pick up all COVID-19 infections, but timing is also important.
The new COVID variant symptoms are similar to those of previous strains, including:
- Congestion.
- Cough.
- Diarrhea.
- Fatigue.
- Fever and chills.
- Headaches.
- Loss of taste or smell.
- Muscle soreness and aches.
While the three COVID-19 vaccines we have are incredibly effective, no vaccine provides 100% protection against the virus. People who are fully or partially vaccinated can still become infected by the novel coronavirus, which is called a breakthrough infection.
How long will I feel ill with COVID? ›
Most people get better from COVID-19 within 3 weeks. Some people get worse again after they first start to feel a bit better. This usually happens about 7 to 10 days after their symptoms started. You might have mild symptoms and feel unwell for a short time before slowly starting to feel better.
Can you live with someone with COVID and not get it? ›
Because coronavirus is transmitted through close contact with someone who is infected, it's common for the virus to spread within homes. But a positive diagnosis for one person doesn't always mean others will be infected.
Does a faint line on a COVID test mean it's going away? ›
“The less dark, the line is, the less viral material that is present,” he says. “This could reflect diminishing contagiousness, or the start of it.”
Can a COVID test change in a day? ›
False negatives can happen
“With any variant, someone could show up with a negative test for the first two days of symptoms, potentially, and then turn positive maybe on the third or fourth day,” said Dr. Volk.
Can you spread COVID if you are negative and have no symptoms? ›
You can still catch or spread COVID-19 if you: do not have symptoms.
What are the long symptoms of Covid-19 that won't go away? ›
Long COVID is a collection of symptoms that last three months or longer after your first COVID symptoms. It can steal your energy, your ability to think clearly, and your sense of smell or taste. You might feel anxious or depressed, get frequent headaches, be short of breath or have heart palpitations.
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