Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause from mild to serious respiratory infections. COVID-19 is the most recently discovered form of coronavirus. This new virus and disease was unknown before the December 2019 outbreak in Wuhan, China.
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
- Significant loss of appetite
This list does not include all possible symptoms.
CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.
Talk with your medical provider about other symptoms that are concerning or severe.
If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell call your healthcare provider for medical advice.
Stay home except to get medical care. Avoid public areas and do not use public transportation, ride-sharing or taxis.
Call ahead to let the doctor’s office know that you have or may have COVID-19. Wear a facemask before you enter your health provider’s office.
Monitor your symptoms. Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening (e.g. if you have difficulty breathing).
If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that you have or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If possible, put on a facemask before emergency medical services arrive.
Stay at home, in isolation, until the risk of secondary transmission is thought to be low. The decision to discontinue home isolation precautions should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider and your state and local health departments.
While in home isolation, stay away from other people in your home. Stay in a specific room as much as possible and use a separate bathroom, if available. Limit contact with pets.
Avoid sharing personal items, such as dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home. After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
Practice routine cleaning of high-touch surfaces, such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and bedside tables.
For more information on steps to take if you become sick with COVID-19, go to the CDC website.
Most mild cases last a few days. Severe cases can last two to three weeks.
We take every precaution possible to provide a safe environment for any emergency as well as for elective and medically necessary procedures as prescribed by your primary care physician or specialist.
We have implemented our
COVID SAFETY standards at all of our facilities, which are a combination of rigorous infection prevention processes, staff training, testing and utilization of personal protective equipment and technology focused on protecting patients and their families as they seek care at our facilities.
With COVID-19, we are taking extra safety measures and following the guidelines of the State Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and our local Infection Control and Prevention Team. If you feel like you are sick, please contact your healthcare provider first to receive next steps. If you suspect you may have COVID-19, please also contact your primary care physician first to receive next steps.
The
CDC website features the most current information about the virus.
