To test or not to test, that is the question
Students share their experiences getting tested for Covid-19
March 23, 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a surge of worry and overthinking when it comes to getting sick. Is it allergies? Is it a cold? The flu? COVID!?
“It’s better to know [whether or not you have Covid-19] then to not know at all,” said sophomore Macee Dippery “and [you could] affect those around you that are high-risk or affect those that can affect others that are high-risk.”
Getting tested is the best way to rid yourself of this worry. Whether you are inclined to think it’s COVID or just a cold, it’s best to know for sure, but, the testing process can be scary and overwhelming.
Dippery got tested for Covid-19 at CHKD after experiencing mild symptoms.
“[My test ran] very smoothly,” said Dippery, “and the doctors were very cooperative.”
Everybody’s experience getting tested will be different, but hearing others’ stories of their experiences can familiarize you with the process.
“The experience was definitely not what I was expecting,” said junior Jole Hartwell. “It was actually much quicker and easier than I thought!”
Currently, the most common method of testing for Covid-19 involves a nurse inserting a long cotton swab up the patient’s nose to collect the bacteria there, but there are more and more self -tests emerging on the market. Hartwell got a self-test.
“It is quick and easy,” Hartwell elaborated. “They hand you the test, you do it yourself, and it only takes about 10 seconds to do the test.”
Not only do methods of testing vary, but the speed at which you receive your results varies depending on the test.
“My family got rapid tests when they first came out and I expected us to get our results [the] same day,” said sophomore Kennedy Jemison. “In reality it took about four days for all five of us to receive our results.”
Your experience may vary depending on where and how you choose to get tested. Covid-19 test services are available at pharmacies such as CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens, urgent care centers such as Patient First, and local health centers.
“Even though they’re sticking a Q-tip up your nose it is worth it to find out your results in the end,” said Dippery.
If you are feeling symptoms of Covid-19, have been involved in high-risk activities involving large groups, or have been in close contact with someone infected, the CDC advises that you get tested. For more information on testing in the Virginia Beach area, visit the Virginia Department of Health’s website. To find a nearby testing center, use the Covid Testing Center tool on the Virginia Department of Health’s website.
