About coronavirus testing
Updated
This content is archived and will not be updated.
The advice to stay at home for 4 days after a positive test result was revoked by the Government on 5th April 2022 and was replaced with advice to stay at home when you feel unwell.
Newly-arisen respiratory tract symptoms?
You can still take a COVID-19 test but it is no longer a general recommendation.
If you are unwell and need to consult a doctor, they will consider if further tests should be performed. The advice to stay at home when you are sick applies regardless of whether you take a test and regardless of the test result.
Testing to assess treatment with nirmatrelvir + ritonavir (Paxlovid)
Certain groups have a higher risk of a severe disease course if they are infected by SARS-CoV-2. On the Directorate of Health's website you can read about these groups:
Paxlovid can probably prevent the development of a severe disease course. Treatment should start as early as possible and preferably within 5 days of the onset of symptoms. People who belong to these groups with a higher risk and develop COVID-19 symptoms should therefore take a self-test. If the self-test is positive, contact a doctor. A positive self-test and assessment by a doctor is sufficient for starting treatment, but the diagnosis should be confirmed with a PCR test or rapid antigen test taken by the health service.
For people with an increased risk of a severe disease course and a positive test, the doctor will make an overall assessment based on age, time since the last vaccine dose, as well as other risk factors to decide whether it is appropriate to treat with Paxlovid.
If the self-test is negative and symptoms persist, it is recommended to take another self-test on the next days, up to day four. If the self-test is positive, contact a doctor. If the symptoms get worse, you should contact a doctor regardless of the test result.
Test for use in COVID-19 certificate
As a general rule, a test for a COVID-19 certificate must not be performed by a family doctor or out-of-hours medical service. Check which testing options are available in your municipality. For a test to be valid in the COVID-19 certificate, it must be taken by a professional. Negative COVID-19 test results, vaccination and immunity after recovery from COVID-19 disease are included in the COVID-19 certificate. People who plan to travel have a duty to familiarise themselves with the rules at their destination.
