COVID-19 Testing
If you have a Core Primary Care Physician or Pediatrician, please call the office directly to assist in your testing needs or contact your local pharmacy. If you do not have a Core Primary Care Physician or Pediatrician, please contact your local pharmacy for assistance.
Charges Associated with COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 Testing at Home
If you have any concern that you might have COVID-19, home testing kits can be very helpful.
- If your home test is positive and you have symptoms, there is a very high likelihood that you truly have a COVID-19 infection, even if your symptoms are mild. There is no need to repeat the test or take a different test. Follow this advice for isolation, managing symptoms, and when to call your doctor.
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19 but your home test is negative, there is a still a chance you could have COVID-19 (false negative). Many home tests have instructions for repeat testing if you have symptoms but the first test is negative – follow the instructions, isolate from others, and call your Core PCP if you have any questions or worsening symptoms.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and you have any risk factors for getting very sick from the infection, call your PCP right away to discuss if any additional treatment is needed.
COVID-19 Treatments – Paxlovid
Most people with COVID-19 infections feel better by the end of their isolation without any treatments. However, COVID-19 can cause severe illness and even result in death in some people. For people ages 65 and older or with certain risk factors, there are treatments that can significantly reduce the chance of needing to be hospitalized or even dying from COVID-19, when given early in the infection. If you just tested positive for COVID-19 and are 65 or older or have any of these medical conditions, please make an appointment with your primary care provider to discuss if treatment is appropriate for you. At Core Physicians, we are able to prescribe the oral antiviral medication, Paxlovid, or arrange monoclonal antibody treatments.
NH DHHS Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines for COVID-19
Core Physicians supports the new COVID-19 guidelines released by NH DHHS on 1/6/22. These guidelines advise the general public that anyone infected with COVID-19 may end their isolation after 5 days as long as they have been fever free for 24 hours and their symptoms are improving. Patients who still have fever or significant symptoms on day 5 should continue to strictly isolate away from others. We encourage our patients who are infected with COVID-19 to stay home for up to 10 days if they have on-going significant symptoms or fever. For those who choose to end isolation at 5 days, please be sure to wear a well-fitting mask for an additional 5 full days when around other people.
CDC guidelines advise that patients with COVID-19 can choose to perform a rapid antigen test on day 5 of illness. Core supports this recommendation, but at this time, we do not have the resources to offer this type of additional testing to our patients. Patients who have access to home tests can choose to perform this testing at home if they desire.
If you think you may have COVID-19 and need a test, or you have been exposed to COVID-19 and need a test, please contact your Core PCP for information about getting tested.
COVID-19 Patient Resources
For COVID-19 Positive or Suspected Patients
Other COVID-19 Recommended Resources
As a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, including: