Coronavirus FAQs

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.

• COVID-19 Send-Out PCR Lab Test

The CDC recommends the COVID-19 send-out PCR lab test, as it is considered the most sensitive.*

• COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test

The COVID-19 rapid antigen test provides results in less time. However, they are less sensitive* than the COVID-19 send-out PCR lab test.

Following an evaluation, a health care professionals will determine the most appropriate method of testing, based on:

• CDC recommendations and considerations
• Type and duration of symptoms
• Known contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19
• Pre-procedural, occupational or travel testing considerations

Please note that for the most accurate COVID-19 test results, the CDC and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommend that individuals who are not showing symptoms, but who have had close contact with an individual who has tested positively for COVID-19, wait five to seven days after the known exposure to get a COVID-19 test. Additionally, the CDC and AAFP recommend self-quarantining for 14 days after a known exposure to COVID-19, even if no symptoms are present.

Visit your local urgent care center or look for nearby COVID-19 testing centers through Google or your search engine of choice. Call beforehand as most healthcare facilities are not allowing walk ins except in emergency cases.