Pardee UNC Health Care Offers Guidance to Community on Testing and Seeking Treatment for COVID-19

In response to the current COVID surge and wave of patients seeking testing and treatment, Pardee would like to offer the following guidance in an effort to reserve supply for both testing and treatments for those individuals who are symptomatic, more contagious, and eligible for the newest monoclonal antibody therapies.

Pardee officials request that the community refrain from calling the Emergency Department with questions, as those team members are busy caring for patients. For additional questions related to COVID or treatment options, please call Pardee’s community COVID hotline at 828-694-8225. This is a voicemail only phone line; please leave a message and we will call you back with answers to your questions. There may be a delay in return calls for messages left on a weekend or holiday.

Testing

The following is based on the latest guidelines released on Dec. 27 by the CDC^[1] for individuals who have come into close contact with a COVID-positive individual.

Vaccinated and Fully Boosted, Asymptomatic, Close Contact:

Wear a mask around others for 10 days and test on day 5, if possible. Keep in mind that testing is difficult to come by.

Unvaccinated, Partially Vaccinated or Not Yet Boosted, Asymptomatic, Close Contact:

Stay home for 5 days and test on day 5, if possible. Keep in mind that testing is difficult to come by. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days. If you are unable to quarantine, you must wear a mask for 10 days.

Symptomatic, Close Contact:

Regardless of vaccination status, seek a COVID test to determine if you are positive for COVID. If you are positive, follow the guidelines below.

Positive Test for COVID-19

If you test positive for COVID-19, everyone, regardless of vaccination status should:

• Stay home for 5 days and wear a mask around others.
• If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave the house.
• Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.

Pardee officials encourage everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask in public or crowded spaces.

Therapeutic Antibody Treatments for COVID

Pardee, like others across the country, is limited in what is available to treat COVID as a result of the Omicron variant. As a result, eligibility criteria is more stringent (found at pardeehospital.org/covid-treatment) and patients can only be referred by a provider. If you are sick, the first step to take is to get tested. If you are COVID-positive, ask your provider to verify your eligibility. If you meet the eligibility requirements, and there is treatment available, your provider can then make a referral.