Infected with coronavirus

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you should self-isolate as soon as possible.

Updated: 17 March 2022

If you are infected with COVID-19, you are encouraged to self-isolate as soon as possible.

If you have tested positive with a self test, you no longer need to take a PCR test to get it confirmed. Instead, you are recommended to follow the Danish Health Authority's current recommendations for self-isolation. You no longer need to notify your close and other contacts.

Infected with COVID-19

If you have tested positive

Click your way through this guide and get information on what to do if you have tested positive for COVID-19.

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INFECTED

Digital tracing of contacts

If you are infected, you can inform about your infection directly on sundhed.dk or via the app MinSundhed. You can access digital contact tracing as soon as you have received a positive test result.

Here you can provide the information that you would otherwise have to provide for the contact tracing hotline on your phone.

Contact tracing is still available to infected people who prefer to take the dialogue by telephone.

It is also possible for infected people to ask for further advice and guidance through the digital contact tracing. The contact tracing hotline will then contact you by phone – this also applies if contact tracing needs additional information from you.

Digital contact tracing initially only applies to citizens with NemID or MitID who can respond on their own behalf. Children under the age of 15 and persons under guardianship can therefore not use the solution at present. In these cases, the contact tracing hotline will call the parents or guardians of the infected.

The contact tracing hotline always calls from the telephone number (+45) 32 32 05 11.

Infected child

If your child has tested positive for COVID-19, it is important that you immediately ensure that the child is isolated.

As a starting point, you should keep your distance from the infected child. However, children need care and contact in the form of hugs and comfort, and this is more important than keeping distance.

It is no longer recommended that contacts in the household be tested. You can see the new test recommendations here:

Test for COVID-19

When is COVID-19 most contagious?

The risk of infecting others with COVID-19 is assumed to be greatest in the day up to the onset of symptoms and for a few days after the symptoms started. However, you can infect others, even if you do not experience symptoms yourself. Therefore, it is important to follow the advice of the health authorities and go into self-isolation if you have tested positive.

For omicron-infected persons it is assumed that you secrete most virus in the days up to the symptoms starts and for a few days after the symptoms started, but that virus can be secreted up to 8-10 days after the symptoms started.

At the same time, it is assumed that both the extent and duration of virus secretion are generally reduced due to the extensive population immunity.

Omicron-infected people secrete virus even though they have no symptoms or have mild symptoms and severe symptoms. But in general, it is assumed that both the extent and duration of virus secretion are significantly greater if you have severe symptoms of COVID-19. At the same time, it is assumed that a large proportion of those infected will have developed symptoms 3 days after infection.

Self-isolation

You have to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19.

Self-isolation means:

  • You should stay at home and not meet with people you do not live with.
  • You should avoid close contact with people you live with.
  • You need to pay extra attention to maintaining good hygiene and cleaning.

Income during self-isolation

Here you will find the current rules for financial support when infected with coronavirus.

If an employee has to go into self-isolation due to COVID-19, there will be a legal due date, and he or she may be entitled to full pay or sickness benefits.

Employees in self-isolation should work from home as far as possible. If you cannot work at home, it depends on the specific employment relationship whether you are entitled to pay during the period or not. If you are not entitled to pay, employees who are either infected or have a realistic presumption of being infected will be entitled to sickness benefits. The same applies to close contacts who are in self-isolation as a result of infection detection. In all cases, however, the conditions for entitlement to sickness benefit must be met, and therefore there will be persons who cannot receive sickness benefit even if they are infected with COVID-19.

Parents may be entitled to sickness benefit or maternity benefit if their child is in self-isolation. You can read more on borger.dk.

A self-employed person who is either infected with COVID-19 or has a realistic presumption of being infected, or is in close contact, will be able to receive sickness benefits from the first day of absence if the conditions of the law are otherwise met. Read more on virk.dk.

The workplace can, as a rule, receive reimbursement if wages are paid during illness and the employee would be entitled to sickness benefits.

The scheme to be granted isolation outside the home by the municipality has ceased from 1 April 2022.

Forced to leave self-isolation?

Use a CE certified face mask if you need to break your self-isolation briefly in exceptional circumstances, e.g. if you need to get a test or go to the hospital.

Do not use public transport, including taxi, when going to the test centre.

When can I stop self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19?

If you have no symptoms, you can stop self-isolating 4 days after taking your test.

If you have mild symptoms, you can stop self-isolating 4 days after taking your test. Mild symptoms of COVID-19 are symptoms such as a runny nose, throat tickles and a few coughs that will typically be transitory. In this case, you do not feel really sick.

If you have significant symptoms, you should self-isolate until you no longer have significant symptoms. You need to self-isolate at least 4 days after your positive test result. Significant symptoms of COVID-19 are symptoms such as fever, persistent cough, sneezing or breathing problems. In this case, you feel sick.

Special precautions: It is recommended that you wear a face mask or visor for three days after self-isolation at hospitals, nursing homes, home visits to severely immunocompromised relatives etc. Also if you work at these places and have contact with patients.

Contact your own doctor if your condition worsens.

Read more about what to be aware of when you are infection-free

After being infected with COVID-19
Infection-free

After being infected with COVID-19

If you have been infected, it might affect when you can get vaccinated, whether you are recommended to be tested and how long you must wait until you have a valid corona passport again.

Help prevent the spread of COVID-19
Prevent infection

Help prevent the spread of COVID-19

To limit the spread of COVID-19, it is important to follow the rules and recommendations set by the authorities.

FAQs

Questions and answers about being infected with coronavirus

Updated: 1 April 2022

If you are tested positive for COVID-19, it is recommended that you go into self-isolation. This applies to all types of tests.

The same isolation recommendations apply to children as to adults.

If you need guidance, you can call the contact tracing hotline on 32 32 05 11. Here you will receive advice on what you and your child should do. You will also get help identifying your child’s close contacts. The school/childcare management must be notified, so they can take the necessary precautions and inform parents of other children who may have been exposed to infection.

It means that you have to stay home and avoid meeting people you do not live with. Do not go to work, avoid shopping and walks, and ask others to walk the dog. Get help if you need to do shopping, and have goods delivered outside your door. Use a CE-certified face mask, i.e. a surgical mask. Keep a distance to others. 

Avoid close physical contact with others at home - especially if you are living with a person in risk of severe illness from a COVID-19 infection. Sleep in separate rooms if possible, and avoid spending a lot of time in the same room. Use separate bathrooms and toilets if possible. If not, you should clean surfaces, water taps and door handles thoroughly.

Significant symptoms

Significant symptoms of COVID-19 are symptoms such as fever, sore throat, persistent cough, sneezing or breathing problems. In this case, you generally feel sick without necessarily feeling like you need help.

If you experience significant symptoms of COVID-19, you should self-isolate for at least 4 days after your positive test result.

Mild or asymptomatic symptoms

Mild symptoms of COVID-19 are symptoms such as a runny nose, throat tickles, and a few coughs that will typically be transitory. In this case, you do not feel really sick.

If you test positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms or no symptoms of COVID-19, you should self-isolate for at least 4 days after your positive test result.

Close contact

You do not need to be tested again to be regarded as having recovered. The test can be positive due to inactive virus, even if you are healthy and no longer able to infect anyone else. It is therefore not necessary to have a negative test before being able to return to work, school, etc.

The health authorities recommend that you wait a month after recovering from illness before being vaccinated.

If you are infected with COVID-19, have symptoms, and are at increased risk of becoming seriously ill, you may be able to get treatment with antiviral pills.

If you meet all three criteria below, you may be able to get treatment:

  • Positive PCR test for COVID-19
  • Symptoms of COVID-19 for maximum 5 days
  • In risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 because of the following:
    • You are 80 years or older, regardless of vaccinations status
    • You are not vaccinated, and you are between 65 and 79 years old
    • You are not vaccinated, and you are between 18 and 64 years old and in risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19
    • You are vaccinated, below the age of 80 but with several different serious diseases, which together increase your risk of a serious COVID-19 course of illness

Your doctor determines whether you are in the target group for treatment with antiviral pills. If you think you may be in the target group, it is important that you contact your doctor as soon as you have received your positive PCR test result, as treatment must be given within 5 days of experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

The Danish Health Authority recommends antiviral pills to those who will benefit the most from them.

The Danish Health Authority’s recommendations are based on an assessment of which persons may benefit the most from treatment with antiviral pills, which outweigh the risk of both known and unknown side effects.

The Danish Health Authority assesses that the benefits outweigh the risks for people who are most at risk of becoming seriously ill and hospitalized. People who are not in increased risk of severe illness and hospitalization are not recommended to use antiviral pills, as they are not considered to benefit from the treatment.

The recommendations on treatment with antiviral pills will be adjusted as the Danish Health Authority will get more knowledge.

Still looking for answers?

You can find out more information in our FAQ section or by contacting one of the authorities' COVID-19 hotlines.