2 COVID Vaccines Approved, End to Pandemic in Sight??

[Seagull]

So if your test is negative you still cannot spend Thanksgiving with your dad?

That is sad.

I agree, that is sad, but it is the responsible thing to do.

The problem is you need to wait at least 5-7 days (7 is recommended) after any potential exposure before getting a diagnostic PCR or antigen test. Testing before that has a higher probability of false negatives as the virus takes a while to incubate and reproduce enough to be detectable. On average this takes 5-6 days post-exposure, but it can take as long as 14 days in some cases. This is also why the 14-day self-quarantine is recommended. An infected individual may be contagious a day or two before they develop symptoms––though some people don't develop noticeable symptoms at all despite being contagious.

It is usually recommended to get a PCR test after 7 days, and if negative, get a second one after 14 days. If both are negative then people are cleared to leave quarantine and return to work or whatnot.

In @eriehiker's case, testing before 7 days after exposure is likely to provide a high possibility of false negatives. That likely means the first test will fall on or around Thanksgiving, and the results from that could take a day or two (antigen tests take under an hour, but are less accurate). A second test would still be required 14 days after exposure to confirm a negative result. However, it is still possible to be contagious after 3-4 days, even if there are no symptoms. So, staying in quarantine while awaiting test results is prudent.

Agree,

Wished it was like this but some places people work at, they cannot afford to have employees stay home and so if test is neg they are allowed to go to work.

Plus some tests are not accurate, also Elon Musk tried 4 with 2 different results, 2 positive, 2 negative.

It would be ideal if rules were based solely on science but instead they are based on geo economics factors and so the states that are allowed free travel from one place to another are also the most affected (NY, NJ, etc) instead on basing the travel on numbers and science.