Have Questions About COVID-19 Tests? Here Are Some Answers

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | COVID-19, Featured, Your Health


As the highly contagious Omicron variant continues to spread, more and more people are thinking about getting tested for COVID-19. You may be feeling under the weather, or you may have recently spent time with someone who has COVID-19. You may want to get tested before seeing family or friends, or attending a large indoor gathering.

With a number of different tests available, many people have questions about which test to take, when to take it, and what their results may mean. In this Q&A, Aaron E. Glatt, MD, MACP, FIDSA, FSHEA, Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief of Infectious Diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau, explains how you can decide which test may meet your needs.

What types of tests are available? What are the differences between them?

There are a number of different ways that we can diagnose a COVID-19 infection. None of them are perfect, and each has their benefits and disadvantages. Let’s break it into two groups of testing: We have antigen tests, and we have PCR tests. Each of them has a role, and each of them has a slightly different situation where they may be preferable.

So we start off with the antigen test. This is what most people use at home. These are the tests you can buy at your local pharmacy. They are often referred to as “rapid tests.” If an at-home test is positive, and you are symptomatic, it’s highly likely that you have a COVID-19 infection. If you are taking this test because you’ve been exposed to somebody with COVID-19, it is also likely that a positive test is reliable. On the other hand, when these tests are negative, they’re just not good enough to necessarily rule out that a person does not in fact have COVID.

The other type of test is a PCR test. There are many different types of PCR tests. Most PCR tests will take 24 to 48 hours to return your results. PCR tests are somewhat more sensitive than rapid antigen tests.  If your PCR test result is positive, that will almost always represent a true positive, meaning it is accurate and you do have COVID-19 or that you had it in the recent past. The issue with these tests, however, is that they’re so specific. That means they can remain positive even when somebody is no longer contagious, and they no longer have COVID-19. But in general, the PCR tests are very good. They can tell you with a little bit more certainty that you did have an exposure to COVID-19.

How do I know which test I should take?

We usually recommend you talk to your health care provider if you’re concerned that you may have COVID-19. If you have symptoms or if you were exposed to COVID, then you may want to go get an at-home rapid test. If your rapid test is positive, you should talk to your doctor to decide what, if any, additional tests need to be done. If you have more serious symptoms, you should be evaluated by a doctor no matter what the antigen or PCR test shows.

When should I get tested?

If you have symptoms, you should get tested right away. If you’re being tested because of an exposure, we usually recommend waiting at least two days, or 48 hours, before testing. There are always exceptions to the rule. But that’s the general recommendation.

How reliable are at-home tests?

There are different at-home tests, and some of them are more reliable than others. If you have symptoms, or you think there’s a likelihood that you do in fact have COVID, then these tests can be very useful if they’re positive.

If my test result is positive, what should I do?

The first thing to do is contact your doctor. This could be a telehealth visit. We want you reaching out to your provider and getting expert medical advice from the person who knows you and your medical history. Not everyone has the same level of risk. It’s best to have a health care provider decide what evaluation needs to be done, and what potential treatments, additional testing, and ongoing monitoring you may need.

If my test result is positive, when should I retest?

There isn’t necessarily a reason to retest if you’re positive and your clinical care is being handled and you’re doing better. Typically, we wait a certain length of time to decide that a person is no longer contagious, and that they can stop isolating. That may be a five day period of time, assuming your symptoms are resolving and you have no fever. After that, we recommend that you be extremely careful in terms of distancing and wearing a mask whenever you’re going indoors among other people for at least an additional five days. For somebody who’s having a little bit more of a complicated clinical course—for example, they are having symptoms that aren’t resolving or they’re having persistent fevers—then you can’t assume that in five days, they’re no longer contagious. This should be something that your doctor helps you decide based upon your particular symptoms and medical history.

If my test result is negative, does that mean I’m good to go?

Anyone who has symptoms should not be going into public gatherings with other people. If they do have to go indoors, they should be wearing a mask and distancing as much as possible. A negative test doesn’t mean you don’t have COVID, and it doesn’t mean you can’t be contagious. Even if it’s not COVID, it might be the flu or some other virus that could be contagious to other people. As a result, you should really try and protect everybody from whatever illness you may have.

If I have symptoms, but my test was negative, what should I do?

In that situation, there are additional tests that you can take, such as testing for the flu or additional testing for COVID-19. You should talk to your doctor if you have ongoing symptoms and you have a negative COVID test. It can be a telehealth discussion. You should speak with your doctor, who knows you, and knows your background and your risk factors for serious illness.

Why are testing and vaccination still important?

It’s very important that patients realize that while the press reports that Omicron is a mild illness—you just get a little bit of flu-like symptoms, and you’re fine—that’s not really true for everybody. If you’re not vaccinated, Omicron can cause severe illness. Even in vaccinated people, if they’re not boosted, they are still more likely to get into trouble. So the best recommendation at this point is to get a booster dose of the vaccine if you’ve gotten vaccinated, and certainly, if you haven’t been vaccinated, this is still a great time to get vaccinated.

A misconception is that the vaccines don’t work because there are breakthrough infections. Nothing can be further from the truth. These vaccines are phenomenally successful in preventing death, in preventing serious illness, in preventing admissions to the hospital. Omicron, while “milder” than the Delta variant, can still cause all of these things for some people. It’s critically important for everyone to protect themselves, protect their loved ones, and protect their community by getting vaccinated.

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How to Develop—and Maintain—Better Nutritional Habits

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Diet and Nutrition, Your Health

Man writing down habits for better nutrition while eating quinoa bowl at table

Most of us want to eat better. But how should you start? Should you ‘kick start’ weight loss with a five-day juice cleanse or maybe try the meat-heavy paleo diet?

It doesn’t need to be that complicated. In fact, juice cleanses and fad diets can sometimes do more harm than good.

Perri Halperin, MS, RD, Clinical Dietitian at The Mount Sinai Hospital, offers some simple ways to develop a healthier diet—without depriving yourself—and explains how working with a nutritionist can help support your weight loss or weight management goals.

What small changes can I make for a healthier diet?

It’s always easier to add something to your diet, rather than subtract. To increase micronutrients and fiber, I recommend adding a non-starchy vegetable—like green beans, carrots, or spinach—or a fruit with every meal.

Make sure to start your day with breakfast. A lot of people think that skipping breakfast is best, but in doing so you are confusing your body. Food is fuel. When you skip breakfast—or any meal—your body holds onto the food it has as an energy reserve. A healthy breakfast, and any meal, includes non-starchy vegetables, fruit, and protein. Protein gives you a feeling of being full, something nutritionists call satiety, after you eat.

Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages. Instead of drinking juice or soda, try fruit-infused water or seltzer. You can infuse water with watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, cucumber, or mint.

Should I count calories?

When you think about calories, focus on quality, not quantity. Eating 300 calories worth of cake, candy, and chips is not the same as eating 300 calories of salad and chicken. Try to have a protein with every meal and snack. Good sources of proteins include eggs; plain nonfat Greek yogurt (which has more protein, less sugar, and a thicker consistency than regular yogurt); low-fat cottage, or ricotta cheese; fish or shellfish; chicken and turkey; beans or chickpeas; seitan or tofu.

If you eat a protein and a non-starchy vegetable at every meal and snack, you will put yourself in the right calorie range. You’ll also feel good because you are giving your body the fuel that it needs. If you do well with counting something, count grams of protein instead of calories. Aim to consume about 60 grams of protein a day. An eight ounce glass of milk skim milk has about 8 grams and a chicken breast has about 30 grams.

Do I need to detox or cleanse my body?  

Your body cannot use food to detox or cleanse. Your body cleanses and detoxes itself using your kidneys and liver. The best way to help your body cleanse itself is to feed it the fuel that it needs to carry out those processes efficiently and without overwhelming those organs.

Are there habits that people think are healthy that are not?

Yes. I call these habits false friends—things we eat or drink because we think they’re healthy but they’re not. Smoothies and juicing are false friends. They trick us into consuming calories and sugar from foods we probably wouldn’t sit down and eat in one sitting. It’s better to eat your food, not drink it.

Granola, granola bars, and trail mix are also false friends. These foods are often high in sugar and fat. A third type of false friend is vitamin and mineral supplements (micronutrients) that our body doesn’t need. Our body’s internal processes help itself maintain equilibrium. When we overload ourselves with B-12 supplements, magnesium, or other supplements that we don’t need, all we’re doing is giving our body an extra job—to get rid of those extraneous micronutrients.

Some people think tropical fruit—like bananas—are off limits, and I want to dispel that myth. Don’t be scared of a banana. It’s true that berries—strawberries, blueberries, blackberries—tend to be lower in sugar than bananas, pineapples, papayas, and mangoes; that doesn’t mean you should never have a banana. It means you should think about variety and moderation when making food choices.

Yogurt choices can be overwhelming. Plain, nonfat Greek yogurt is a good choice. If you need a little flavor, take a look at the label. You should get at least 12 grams of protein and less than six or seven grams of sugar per serving.

How can a nutritionist help me?

Nutritionists can help in a variety of ways, depending on what you need. If you need information, a nutritionist can explain calories, proteins, fats, and carbs. They can help you figure out what to eat. Nutritionists can also help you identify obstacles that may be preventing you from healthy eating. Sometimes you know what to eat, but you’re not eating it. Talking to a nutritionist can help you work through those issues and come up with solutions. In addition, working with a nutritionist can provide accountability.

Like when consulting with any health care professional, it’s important to know what your weight loss and/or weight maintenance goals are and to build a good rapport. Working with a nutritionist can help you live life while reaching these goals. You can celebrate the holidays or go on vacation without sabotaging your efforts or giving up the foods and flavors you love. A nutritionist can help.

Why is it so important to have the right mindset?

In my experience, having the right mindset is the number one indicator of successful weight loss and weight maintenance. People who make the connection between food and exercise choices and how they feel become strong and empowered—and have the most long-term success.

Weight loss, in particular, can feel really overwhelming. You think you need to lose 20 pounds in a month and can’t figure out how to do it. Breaking it down into smaller chunks is helpful. Instead of worrying about 30 dinners at once, look at the meal that’s right in front of you at that moment. Focus on making the best choice you can—then do that again and again. Consistency is important. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good. Making good choices every day is more effective than one ‘perfect’ meal.

I often hear people say, “I did a liquid diet and it worked, but now I’ve put weight on.” That makes you ask the question: Did it really work? Having the mindset, understanding that getting and maintaining a healthy weight is a lifelong journey with ups and downs, is really important.

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How Is the Omicron Variant Affecting Children?

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Children's Health, COVID-19, Your Health

The Omicron variant is the latest strain of COVID-19 that is causing concern. While far more contagious than earlier variants, there are indications that it causes less serious disease—especially in the vaccinated.

Despite this sliver of good news, reports of increased pediatric hospital admissions has many parents and guardians worried that this variant may be more dangerous for children. Pediatric infectious disease specialist Roberto Posada, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Education, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, dispels that belief and explains how to protect yourself and your family. The key takeaways: if eligible, get vaccinated; wear a high-quality face covering while indoors; and practice social distancing.

Is the Omicron variant more of a risk to infants and toddlers than older kids and adults? What are the symptoms?

The Omicron variant is very widespread and it affects people of all ages. That includes infants, toddlers, school-age kids, adolescents, and adults. It does not discriminate by age—everybody is at risk.

For the vast majority of children, symptoms of this variant are very similar to other common illness of childhood. This includes fever, a runny nose, cough, congestion, a sore throat, and/or difficulty swallowing. Some kids also complain about abdominal pain and diarrhea.

My child has COVID-19. How can I treat them at home?

Treatment depends on how ill your child is but the vast majority can be treated at home using over-the-counter medications. For instance, children who are experiencing minor symptoms, like fever and body aches, can be treated with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen.

However, if you think that your child is sicker than you can handle at home or if they are having difficulty breathing or eating so little that you are worried about dehydration, call your doctor right away.

How can we protect children from the Omicron variant?

Vaccination goes a long way toward protecting children—and adults—from the Omicron variant, and a booster shot provides additional defense against the virus. So, if you (or your child) are eligible for a booster but have not received one, I encourage you to schedule an appointment. By protecting yourself, you are protecting your child.

In addition to getting vaccinated, wearing a mask and maintaining social distance are very important. Since COVID-19 is circulating at very high levels, try to avoid crowded places. Also, make sure that your child understands the importance of washing their hands frequently, either with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer.

If your child happens to feel sick, keep them home from school so that you can prevent an infection from spreading to others. If you think somebody in your family has COVID-19, reach out to your doctor about testing for the virus. If your child attends a daycare or school, you might need to alert them as other close contacts of your child may need to get tested. Be sure to follow whatever directives their daycare/school has outlined.

My child is not yet eligible for vaccination. How can I protect them from contracting COVID-19?

Unfortunately, the vaccine is not available yet for kids who are younger than 5 years of age. In that case, it’s even more important for parents, older siblings, and whoever else lives at home to be fully vaccinated and to get a booster shot. In addition, all household members should diligently follow the rules we have followed throughout this pandemic: avoid crowded places, wear a face covering, maintain social distance, and wash your hands frequently.

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Why Vaccination Is Critical to Protect Your Child From COVID-19

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Children's Health, COVID-19, Your Health

Young child getting vaccinated

As we see an uptick in pediatric hospitalizations for COVID-19, it is important to reemphasize the significance of vaccination.

“Most of the children that we’re seeing in the hospital with COVID-19 have not received a vaccine—or have only received one dose,” says Roberto Posada, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Education, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

In November 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed COVID-19 vaccination for children ages five and up. But, if you have been hesitant to schedule an appointment for your child, Dr. Posada explains vaccine safety and why vaccinating—and, if eligible, boosting—your child is a critical step in avoiding COVID-19.

Should all children ages five and older get the COVID-19 vaccination? What if my child had, and recovered from, the virus?

Yes, the CDC recommends that everyone age five and up get vaccinated. The vaccines are very, very effective at both preventing serious disease caused by COVID-19 and keeping people out of the hospital if they do get the virus. The vaccine is extremely safe and has been tested in patients of all ages. Serious side effects are very, very rare.

Vaccination is recommended even if you have had COVID-19. This includes children who are eligible to receive all the doses of the vaccine, including the booster. Why? Because vaccination offers higher protection than previous infection.

Children ages 12 and older get the same dose as adults. Children ages 5 to 11 get a lower dose of the same vaccine. Currently, only the Pfizer vaccines have been approved for children ages 5 to 11.

Does the vaccine give children full protection against COVID-19?

Children who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 have a high level of protection against the disease; but it is not 100 percent. People who’ve gotten the vaccine are much less likely to get sick. But if they do contract the virus, it’s much less likely that they’re going to get severely sick from it.

Also, we are beginning to see the significance of booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Research shows that protection starts to decrease a number of months after the second COVID-19 vaccine dose. A booster dose provides an added layer of defense against the virus, including protection against the Omicron variant.

Are children eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose?

Everyone over age 12 is eligible to receive the COVID-19 booster dose five months after their last shot. Since children over 12 have been eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine since May 2021, some may be ready for their booster dose. If they are, I highly encourage parents to book an appointment to administer the shot.

Children ages 5 to 11 are not yet eligible for boosters but they just became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in October 2021, so they would not need a booster at this point.

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How to Stay Safe as the Omicron Variant Spreads in New York

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | COVID-19, Featured, Your Health

Bernard Camins, MD, Medical Director for Infection Prevention at the Mount Sinai Health System, discusses how to stay safe in your day-to-day routine and clarifies new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

How safe is public transportation? Are there any new measures New Yorkers should take?

As a New Yorker, I take public transportation all the time. I take both Metro North and the subway. I believe that it’s safe, otherwise I wouldn’t be taking them. I agree with the guidance that masking should be mandatory in every form of public transportation. Masking has made an impact in keeping us safe through the entire pandemic. So, if we all continue to wear face coverings while taking public transportation, we will continue to be safe.

How safe is it for parents to send their kids to school?

All schools in New York City, private or public, should be following the guidelines set forth by the New York City Department of Education and the recommendations of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. If I had a child who was school age, I would feel safe sending them to school based on those guidelines. I would also follow all the recommendations for parents made by those organizations. The New York City Department of Education summarizes much of the guidance here.

Are there any additional measures parents can take to protect their children?

It’s important that if your child is eligible to be vaccinated, you should vaccinate your child as soon as possible against COVID-19. And now that certain age groups are eligible to get the booster, parents should take advantage of that as well.

Have the recommendations changed in terms of what type of mask people should wear?

Because Omicron is more infectious, there have been some reports in the media that cloth masks may no longer be appropriate or adequate insofar as protecting us from this particular variant of COVID-19.  But right now, we don’t have enough data to be sure. If people want to be better protected, they should first make sure their mask is well-fitted. You may want to consider double masking in which you would wear a medical or surgical mask underneath a cloth mask. This would simulate, or be equivalent to, a KN95 mask which is 95 percent effective in filtering respiratory droplets. But no matter what mask you wear, it will be ineffective if you don’t wear it properly—meaning that it should cover your nose and your mouth.

What should I do if I come into close contact with a person who is positive for COVID-19? What defines a close contact at this time?

If you haven’t received your booster shot, and you have a close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you should quarantine for five days, according to new CDC recommendations. Afterwards, you should wear a mask in public for another five days. The CDC also recommends that you should get tested five days after the exposure. A high-risk contact or high-risk exposure is defined as being within six feet of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes, and this could be cumulative over a 24-hour period. If you have received your booster shot, you do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but you should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure and get tested at day 5 if you still do not have symptoms, according to the CDC. This is why it is important to get a booster shot as soon as you are eligible.

Is there anything else that has changed recently that people should know?

One thing that I want to highlight is the new CDC recommendation that if you were found to be infected with COVID-19, you only need to isolate for five days. To correctly count these five days, you should consider the date of symptom onset as Day Zero. If you are asymptomatic, Day Zero would be the date of your positive test. On the day after Day Five, you can leave isolation as long as you keep your mask on when you’re in public. And you should avoid places where you would have to take your mask off, such as restaurants.

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What to Do If You Test Positive for COVID-19

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | COVID-19, Featured, Your Health

With the rise of the highly contagious Omicron variant, more and more people are testing positive for COVID-19, even those who have diligently taken all precautions throughout the pandemic.

There’s not necessarily cause for alarm. The Omicron variant, though far more contagious than earlier strains, appears to produce less serious symptoms, especially if you have been vaccinated and received a booster.

If you have just tested positive and are wondering about next steps, here are answers to some of the questions that Mount Sinai experts are fielding right now.

How should I care for myself?

You should rest, stay hydrated, and treat your symptoms with medications for fevers, cough, and other cold symptoms. For more information about how you can take care of yourself at home, read this article from Abigail R. Chen, MD, Senior Medical Director at Mount Sinai Doctors Downtown.

What does it mean to self-isolate?

  • Self-isolating requires staying away from other people. Stay home unless you need medical care.
  • Do not go to work, school, or public areas. Do not use public transportation, ride sharing, or taxis.
  • If possible, stay in one room, away from others in your home, and use a separate bathroom.
  • Practice basic hand hygiene.
  • Avoid sharing personal household items, such as dishes, towels, and bedding. Wash these items after using them.
  • Clean “high touch” surfaces daily. These may include counters, doorknobs, bathroom items, and phones. Clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or other bodily fluids on them.

Be especially careful if there are older adults in your home, or anyone with serious medical issues. These people may become more seriously ill from this infection. Do not handle pets or other animals while sick.

What should I tell my close contacts?

Anyone who has had close contact with you should call their doctor if they develop symptoms that may be caused by COVID-19. Symptoms may include sort throat, runny nose/nasal congestion, headache, fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

When can I stop self-isolating?

You can stop self-isolating after these three things have happened:

  1. You have not had a fever (your temperature has been less than 100.0° Fahrenheit or 38.0° Celsius) consistently for at least three days (72 hours) without taking fever reducing medications, such as aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
  2. Your breathing is improving.
  3. The recommended duration for isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 is constantly evolving. Staying at home for at least 10 days is the safest option for everyone. If you cannot stay home for 10 days, you may start going out on day 6 if you are fever-free for 24 hours, but you must wear a mask constantly when around other people until the 10 days are up. You should avoid travel and going to public places where you or others have to take off their masks, like restaurants, until the 10 days are up. If you are an essential worker, there are recommendations from the New York State Department of Health that will guide you on how to return to work safely in 5 days.

When should I call my doctor? 

Call your doctor if you start to feel worse, such as experiencing increased congestion, coughing, chest pain, or fever. For Mount Sinai doctors, most follow-up visits can be scheduled as a video visit or over the phone. For a video visit, you must have a MyChart account.

Seek emergency medical treatment if you have difficulty breathing; if possible, call ahead to let them know you may have COVID-19. If you call for emergency assistance to get you, put on a face mask before emergency medical services arrive.

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