In the leadup to the holidays, maybe we can start talking about our coronavirus tests in a slightly different way.

If you do not test positive for the coronavirus, consider that is more about the virus being "not detected," rather than you being "negative" for the virus. 1/

Because maybe the virus is there — but it's not yet present at high enough levels to be found on a test. You could still be infected. You could still be contagious. You could test again tomorrow and be positive; you could test again in five hours and be positive. 2/

Or perhaps you're not infected yet. A test is a snapshot in time; it says nothing about your status in the future. Every trip to the grocery store, even masked, could be an exposure. And a test today won't catch tomorrow's infection. Tests are also imperfect. 3/

"Negative" is often a clear word. But in cases like these, it might lull people into feeling more secure about the virus than is actually the case. Remember that risk is a SPECTRUM, not a binary. Tests are helpful but not the end-all-be-all. 4/

If a test did not detect the virus in you today, great. That is NEVER an excuse by itself to gather or eschew masks. Always stay vigilant. Always know you could still have the virus, and could still pose a transmission risk, regardless of what a point-in-time result says. 5/5