The Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) advises that only certain people should be tested for COVID-19. They recommend viral testing for a current infection when:
- A healthcare professional or local or state health department recommends testing.
- COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or new loss of taste or smell are present.
- Someone has close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone confirmed to have COVID-19.
Any Empire member considering COVID-19 testing should notify their doctor or telehealth program first. Their doctor can help evaluate their risk and decide if testing is needed. Remember, members will have no out-of-pocket costs to worry about when their doctor evaluates their symptoms and orders COVID-19 testing.
If their doctor recommends testing, the member can use our COVID-19 Test Site Finder tool to find nearby testing locations.
We encourage members to call the testing site first to see if an appointment is required. This can save time and help minimize exposure. Other ways to limit the spread of COVID-19 are avoiding close contact with others and testing only when necessary. Choosing testing sites outside of the ER whenever possible can also minimize exposure to illness and help save money.
Learn more
For more information, register now to join us for our January 12 webinar as we share the latest information on COVID-19, including vaccines and clinical updates. Or visit our COVID-19 Resource Center.