@Jeruba When my parents were sick with “just a cold” I pushed them to test for covid. Pushed is a nice way of saying that I berated them. They kept saying, “we aren’t going to do anything different if it’s covid.”
Background: my parents have been practically isolated since the start of covid. My dad double masks at the doctor and stores, he only meets friends outside, he has been very afraid of covid.
The reason I pushed them was because I thought my dad’s intense fear of the virus would diminish if he knew it was “just a cold” for him. That’s why I think knowing you had or have covid is helpful.
Finally, they gave in and they did the covid test, my mom first, it was her second or third day with her “cold.” Results: positive! Then my dad tested, his fourth or fifth day, positive!
Side note: five days might still be contagious if my dad was still coming up positive, which would agree with what Dr. Birx has said, the five day rule isn’t really good enough. People should wait for a negative test before feeling in the clear.