The community of Bolinas has the opportunity to be tested for COVID-19, for free, Monday April 20 through Thursday, April 23. For more details about the test, see this website: bolinastesting.org. This drive-through test is being performed in partnership between members of the community and UCSF Department of Infectious Disease.
At the time of the test, you’ll be given information about what your results mean. Please carefully read this information. No matter what your test result is, we all must continue social distancing, hand-washing and mask wearing.
If you do have a positive PCR test (from the swab) it means you currently have an infection with the coronavirus. Call your doctor as soon as you can so that he or she can give medical advice. The Coastal Health Alliance will have phone appointments available for people with positive PCR tests, regardless of whether you receive primary care with us or not. Please call us at 415-663-8666 and we will schedule an urgent appointment with a medical provider.
Self-quarantine. Follow the guidelines from the CDC about being on quarantine if you have coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/index.html
If your tests are both negative, continue social distancing, public mask wearing and hand-washing. There are many things you can do to support a healthy immune system. Dr. O’Malley’s integrative medicine recommendations can be found here. Strict adherence to public health guidelines is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and vulnerable members of our community.
If your antibody test (from the fingerstick) is positive but your PCR is negative, it is likely that you were exposed to the coronavirus and may have immunity. However, we don’t know this for sure as we are still learning about how good the test is (like, could it be a false positive?) or how long immunity to coronavirus actually gives you protection. So, no matter the result, we all still have to follow public health guidelines.
Take good care.
