When do I need to get tested?

For many, it is unclear exactly when they should get tested - if you have a cold? A sore throat? What if you have had a tickling cough for 3 weeks? And what if you have already been vaccinated?

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In order to clarify these situations, the government has developed a useful questionnaire that determines for your specific situation whether a test is necessary or not. You will even receive a test code immediately if necessary!

You can find this covid-check on this website.

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Below, we summarise the symptoms:

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Main symptoms:

• Shortness of breath

• Fever

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Less severe symptoms:

• Cough

• Loss of taste/odour

• Diarrhoea

• General muscle aches

• Headache

• Cold

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What about children?

Children 6 years and older who show possible symptoms of COVID-19 should be tested. Children in nurseries and pre-schools often show respiratory symptoms. Symptoms in these young children are therefore only a reason to test if there was also a recent (high or low) risk contact. (Source: Sciensano)

High-risk contact?

Fully vaccinated?   

You will go into quarantine and do a PCR test as soon as possible.

If your test is negative, you may leave quarantine.

You still have to do a 2nd test on day 7!

Not fully vaccinated?

You go into quarantine and do a PCR test as soon as possible.

Even if your test is negative, you cannot leave the quarantine.

You still have to do a second test on day 7!

What about children (<12 years)?

High-risk contact at nursery school or kindergarten:

If only 1 other child infected: no test or quarantine needed.

If 2 or more children infected: each child in the class must be tested and quarantined.

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High-risk contact in primary school:

If only 1 other child infected: no testing or quarantine required.

If 2 or more children infected: each child in the class must be tested and sent to quarantine.

If teacher infected: each child in the class must be tested and sent to quarantine.

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Covid infection at home/family?

Adults:

Vaccinated: 

For household contacts, the 1st test is done as soon as possible after identification and the 2nd test 7 days after the last exposure. If the index person cannot completely isolate from the contact (e.g. if a young child is COVID+) the last exposure will only be at the end of the isolation period. The second test will then take place 17 days after the onset of symptoms (or positive test) of the index case. Nevertheless, the quarantine will stop after the 1st negative test. 

Not vaccinated:

For those living under the same roof, the last high-risk contact may occur at different times, depending on the behaviour of the index case. If the index case is unable or unwilling to isolate itself from its family members (e.g. in the case of young children), the last high-risk contact will be at the end of the infectious period of the index case. This should be taken into account for the duration of the quarantine. A first test is always performed as soon as possible after identification of the high-risk contact. A second test can be done at the end of the isolation of the index case (10th day). If this test is negative, quarantine for the contact ends. However, a third test 7 days after the last risk contact (i.e. on day 17) is still required. If no test is done, the quarantine lasts until 10 days after the end of the isolation period (i.e. 10+10 days).

Children:

Household contacts (brothers, sisters, parents) are always high-risk contacts. Stricter rules apply after contamination within the family: quarantine can only be shortened for vaccinated persons. For other persons (including children <12 years of age), the quarantine always lasts at least as long as the index case is still in isolation.