Testing for COVID-19

Find a testing location near you using the MDHHS COVID-19 testing site finder. 

Who should get tested?

If you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and are having symptoms, you should get tested and start isolating. If you have been exposed but are not having symptoms, get tested three to seven days after your exposure. 

When should I get tested?

Test when you start experiencing symptoms or at least three to seven days after your last known exposure to a person with COVID-19, whichever comes first. It can take several days for the virus to incubate in the body before a COVID-19 test shows positive; testing too early can lead to a false negative result.

Where can I get tested?

In Berrien County, there are several testing sites available, including at Spectrum Health Lakeland and InterCare Community Health Network. Please see the state of Michigan's Test Finder tool for more testing sites within and outside Berrien County. 

Testing at home? Please see this MDHHS guidance for more information on how to interpret your at-home test results and what to do if you test positive.

How will I get my test results?

You will be contacted when your results are available. If you're able to set up a patient portal through the testing facility, we recommend doing so for faster access to your results. Typically, test results are available within 24-48 hours, or within 15 minutes for rapid testing. 

How can I get a letter saying I took a test or I tested positive/negative?

Contact your primary care provider or the health care facility where you got tested.

What happens if I test positive for COVID-19?

If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home and begin isolating right away unless you need medical care. Text Berrien to 1-855-706-1919 to receive relevant and up-to-date education and information regarding your illness. Use a separate bedroom and bathroom, if possible, wash your hands, wear a well-fitting mask and disinfect high-touch surfaces often. Reach out to anyone you may have had close contact with (within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) within the past 24 hours. For more information about what to do when you test positive, visit our Isolation and Quarantine page. 

How to manage symptoms at home:

  1. Consider contacting a health care provider as soon as possible regarding COVID-19 treatments you may be eligible to receive.
  2. Stay home to manage mild symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever, fatigue, abdominal cramps, mild nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
  3. Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) up to every 4 hours or ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) up to every 6 hours for fever. Do not exceed the maximum dose per day for any medication. Contact your health care provider if you have questions about your personal health.
  4. Stay hydrated by drinking water or sports drinks. Eat when possible. 
  5. Avoid other family members and friends by following isolation instructions.
  6. Review tips for managing respiratory symptoms at home from CDC.

When to seek medical care:

Call your doctor if you have: 

  1. Any underlying medical condition that puts you at risk for serious illness with COVID-19. 
  2. Fever that does not come down with medication.
  3. Shortness of breath. 
  4. Symptoms that keep getting worse and feel unmanageable. 

Call ahead to the Emergency Department or call 911 if you have: 

  1. Difficulty breathing/inability to catch your breath. 
  2. Chest pain. 
  3. Feel faint, light-headed or unstable in any other way.
  4. If you are unable to drive yourself and do not have a ride, call 911 for transport by ambulance. Inform the 911 dispatcher of your symptoms. 
  5. If a family member or friend is giving you a ride, wear a mask or fabric that covers your mouth and nose while you are in the vehicle with them. 
  6. If you are driving yourself, apply a mask or fabric that covers your mouth and nose before exiting your vehicle.