Testing Positive for COVID-19 or Close Contact Guidance

updated 11-23-2022

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Note: The information contained on this page is for archival purposes only and it is no longer maintained or updated.

If you are experiencing severe difficulty breathing or other symptoms that make it difficult to care for yourself at home, call 911 right away.

Have you tested positive for COVID-19?

For information and guidance for next steps click here.

Have you been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?

For information and guidance for next steps click here.

Do you have COVID-19 Symptoms?

For information and guidance for next steps click here.

Isolation Guidance for anyone who TESTS POSITIVE for COVID-19 (regardless of vaccination status):

What should you do?

  • Stay home for at least 5 days.
  • You DO NOT need to get an additional PCR test if you have had a positive at-home rapid test.
  • If you never had symptoms, you can leave your house after 5 days, but wear a mask for 5 more days.
  • If you had symptoms, ending isolation depends on how serious your symptoms were.
    • If your symptoms are improving and you haven’t had a fever for 24 hours, you may end isolation after 5 days and you wear a mask for 5 more days.
    • If your symptoms are not improving, continue isolation until your symptoms are improving and you have been fever-free for 24 hours (without use of fever-reducing medication).
    • If you had more serious symptoms like shortness of breath or trouble breathing, continue to isolate through day 10.
    • If you were hospitalized or have a weakened immune system, isolate for at least 10 days. You should consult your doctor before ending isolation
  • To prevent the spread of COVID, tell anyone you have recently had close contact with and encourage them to get tested, monitor for symptoms, and reduce exposure to other people.
  • You can use NM Notify (the anonymous exposure notification app) to share your positive result anonymously so that those who had contact with you can receive an exposure notification and take appropriate action. https://nmnotify.com/

Further information and frequently asked questions can be found here on the Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19 | CDC

Precautions for anyone who has been in CLOSE CONTACT with someone with COVID-19:

  • Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
  • Test on Day 5 if possible.
  • If you test positive follow the guidlines for a positive test result.
  • If you test negative with an antigen test, repeat the test in 48 hours.  If that test is also negative, test again in 48 hours, for a total of 3 antigen tests.
  • If you develop symptoms at any time, get tested and stay at home until you get your results.
  • If you can’t get a test, but still have symptoms, assume you are positive and follow guidelines for a COVID-positive test.

Further information and frequently asked questions can be found here: CDC website: What we know about quarantine and isolation

For anyone who HAS SYMPTOMS of COVID-19 regardless of your vaccination status:

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, chills, repeated shaking with chills, gastrointestinal illness and new loss of taste or smell.

  • Get either an at-home rapid test or PCR test if possible and stay at home until you know your test result.
  • If you test positive, follow the guidelines for a positive test result.
  • If you test negative but still have symptoms, get a PCR test OR a second at-home rapid test in 1-2 days.
    • If you test positive on the PCR or at-home rapid test, follow guidelines for a COVID-positive test.
    • If you are negative on the 2nd test and you are concerned you may have COVID-19, you may consider getting a PCR test done or contact your healthcare provider.
  • If you can’t get a test, but still have symptoms, assume you are positive and follow guidelines for a COVID-positive test.

Further information and frequently asked questions can be found here on the CDC website: What we know about quarantine and isolation.

Vaccinations are still the best tool for preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.

Vaccinations remain the best way for New Mexicans to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19. The vaccines are safe, effective, and free. Booster shots help protect against the omicron variants, and DOH encourages everyone 5 and older to get a booster shot as soon as possible.

To find vaccine locations near you, visit vaccinenm.org,  vaccines.gov, or call NMDOH’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-796-8773, available every day from 8 AM to 8 PM. Language assistance is available.

    Get Tested to Help Fight COVID-19.

    Individuals should take a COVID-19 test if they have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed or potentially exposed to an individual with COVID-19.

    At-home tests (For more information click here):

    • Results in minutes
    • If your home test is positive, NO FURTHER TESTING IS NEEDED. You have COVID-19.

    For more information about self testing visit the CDC’s page at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/self-testing.html.

    For a COVID-19 test, visit: FindATestNM.org

    Back to Work Guidance

    DOH does not recommend that employers require employees to provide proof of a negative test before they return to work because people can continue to test positive even though they are no longer able to infect others. Learn more here: https://cv.nmhealth.org/covid-19-testing/

    Additional Isolation and Quarantine:

    To read more information on isolation and quarantine:  COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation | CDC

    After you have gone through these steps and picked the situation that best fits you, if you still have questions, you can call the hotline at 1-833-796-8773.

    Copyright New Mexico Department of Health