Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says there have been cases when someone has initially tested negative for COVID-19 before testing positive.
Dr. Fitzgerald says it may have been too early in the course of the disease to actually pick up enough of the virus to result in a positive test.
That’s why, with a high degree of clinical suspicion, they would re-test.
📢 PLEASE READ & RETWEET
If you have 2 or more of the following (new or worsening) symptoms, you should complete the #COVID19 self-assessment tool at https://t.co/gqIH8mKDh2 #GovNL #covid19nfld
➡️ 🤒 Fever
➡️ 😷 Cough
➡️ 🤕 Headache
➡️ 😞 Sore throat
➡️ 🤧 Runny nose pic.twitter.com/2FrmyfOdpX— Government of Newfoundland & Labrador (@GovNL) April 15, 2020
She says that’s also why it’s so important to ensure that when they are doing testing, they’re doing it at a time they feel they will get the most reliable results.
Dr. Fitzgerald says that’s why they have recommended testing people with symptoms only.
