As frustrating as it might be, especially around the holidays, a coronavirus exposure could mean a quarantine. 

Dallas County Public Health Public Information Officer Ann Cochran says they have received calls wondering if those who are quarantined can test out with a negative COVID-19 test. 

Cochran points out that unfortunately, a negative COVID-19 test does not effectively end the quarantine time period due to the range of time it could take for the coronavirus to show itself. She notes that because of this, anytime during the quarantine period, you could develop the symptoms of the virus. 

“If you get a test partway through your quarantine and it shows negative there is no guarantee that virus isn’t cooking inside of you and then you are going to be symptomatic the very next day. So you cannot cut short your quarantine period you need to wait it out.”

For more information contact the Dallas County Public Health Department at 515-993-3750.