Who should get tested?

While everyone can get tested (whether you have symptoms or not) not everyone needs to. However, if you meet any of these criteria you definitely should. Under these criteria you should also self-quarantine/isolate at home as you wait for your results, and follow the advice of your health care provider or public health professional.

• People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
• People who have had close contact (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes during a 24 hour period) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• People who have asked or referred to get testing by their health care provider. Learn More
• People in certain higher-risk jobs (health care, first responder, corrections, long-term care) are recommended to get tested on a regular schedule.

People who don’t meet the above criteria are recommended to get tested once a month.

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Testing FAQ's

Where to get tested:

In-Person

Delaware has permanent testing sites at Division of Public Health Clinics, State Service Centers, Walgreens and Rite-Aids. There are also semi-permanent community sites operated by health care systems, and pop-up and school sites operated by Curative, Inc. Most of these sites do not require the individual to have symptoms to be tested. While some sites do not require appointments, it will save you waiting time if you do make an appointment or pre-register.

At Home

At-home testing kits are available for Delawareans residents, especially for teachers, staff and students of Delaware schools, Delawareans over the age of 60, those in high-risk groups, and anyone who has been in a large gathering or had any higher risk contact, such as interacting with others without a face covering or appropriate social distancing.

School Testing Information

The following options are available to districts, charters, private schools, and parochial schools for their staff and/or students and families to get tested for COVID-19.

1. At-Home Testing
• Since August, the Vault at-home testing option has been available to all school personnel supporting in-person instruction. School staff receive a test in the mail each month and receive results within 72 hours.
• Students and families can also utilize this same at-home option by ordering a test online and having it sent to their house.
2. Community Sites/Permanent Sites
• Staff, students, and families can access community testing sites.
• Staff, students, and families can also access the permanent testing sites.
3. Antigen Testing:
• District, charter, private, and parochial schools have the option to use on-site antigen testing starting in January. These are rapid tests that deliver results in 15 minutes and are intended for widespread systematic testing of asymptomatic individuals within the school. We encourage districts to focus on their highest need schools for this option.
  • Individual sites should create operational testing plans.
  • DOE/DPH have created an FAQ to support sites who adopt antigen testing.
  • DPH is available to host a WebEx to demonstrate antigen testing.
• For more information and to set up an antigen testing program at one of your schools, please contact Susan Haberstroh, DOE Director of School Support Services.
4. Mako School Testing:
• District, charter, private, and parochial schools can also leverage the Mako school testing option. Mako testing takes place at the school, and is ideal for larger single-day events, such as testing an entire school on the same day.
• Schools will be asked to assist by providing a location and conducting outreach to their school community encouraging participation in the event. These events require at least 300 registrants.
• To set up a day of Mako school testing at one of your schools, please contact Mako directly.

Depending on the type of test, results could take anywhere from minutes to days.

If you test postive, know what protective steps to take to prevent others from getting sick.

If you test negative, you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected. The result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing. Continue to take steps to protect yourself from getting the virus including consistently wearing a face covering when in public or around people who don’t live with you, and social distancing.