▼

COVID-19 - Symptoms and Exposure

Show All Answers

1. What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

According to the CDC, people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported - ranging from people with mild symptoms to people becoming severely ill, requiring admission to the hospital, and dying.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure*, which include:

• Cough
• Shortness of Breath or Difficulty breathing 

Or at least two of these symptoms:

• Fever
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

Read about COVID-19 Symptoms from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
*This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses.

2. How does the virus spread?

The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in some affected geographic areas. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are no sure how or where they became infected.

Like other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza, human coronaviruses most commonly spread to others from an infected person who has symptoms through:

• Droplets produced through coughing and sneezing.
• Close personal contact, such as caring for an infected person.
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands.

Do not assume that someone of a race or nationality is likely to have COVID-19; this virus has infected people of many different races and nationalities across the entire world.

Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses.

3. Can Someone who has had COVID-19 spread the illness to others?

The virus that cases COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

How long someone is actively sick can vary so the decision on when to release someone from isolation is made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with doctors, infection prevention and control experts, and public health officials and involves considering specifics of each situation including disease severity, illness signs and symptoms, and results of laboratory testing for that patient.

Current CDC guidance for when it is OK to release someone from isolation is made on a case-by-case basis and includes meeting all of the following requirements:

• The patient is free from fever without the use of fever reducing medications.
• The patient is no longer showing symptoms, including cough.
• The patient has tested negative on at least two consecutive respiratory collected at least 24 hours apart.

Someone who has been released from isolation is not considered to pose a risk of infection to others.

4. What is community spread?

Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.

5. What can be done to slow the spread of COVID-19 infection?

Merced County follows guidance that has been provided by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the County strongly recommends that everyone practice social distancing of six (6) feet between persons for smaller gatherings, at this time. Please see the CDPH guidance document regarding gatherings at the following link for details: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html

6. How can I help protect myself?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including: 

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. 
• Stay home when you are sick. 
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. 
• Visit the CDC website COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment, to learn more about how to protect yourself.

7. Should I be tested for COVID-19?

If you develop symptoms such as fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider. Older patients and individuals who have severe underlying medical conditions or are immuno-compromised should contact their healthcare provider early, even if their illness is mild. If you have severe symptoms, such as persistent pair or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips of face, contact your healthcare provider or emergency room and seek care immediately. Your doctor will determine if you have signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and whether you should be tested.

8. How is the County handling the testing process?

Testing is being offered at various locations in Merced County. Testing will be scheduled by appointment only and walk-ins will not be accepted.  Testing priority will be given based on severity of symptoms, vulnerable and high-risk populations, and exposure history from contact or travel.

9. As a result of Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent announcement to add more than 80 community testing sites across the state, will Merced County add a new testing site?

Merced County has COVID-19 Testing Available to all Merced County residents. On Monday, May 5th, 2020 an additional COVID-19 testing site will open to all Merced County residents who would like to be tested. PLEASE NOTE: Due to expected high demand, testing availability was changed to by appointment only in order to prevent unnecessarily long wait times for clients. Walk-ins will not be accepted at this time. 

Registration is available online or by phone:

• www.lhi.care/covidtesting
• 1-888-634-1123 

The site does not include antibody testing at this time. Appointments at the testing site will be scheduled Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Merced County Fairgrounds located at 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Merced.

10. I have symptoms, but my Medical Provider won’t recommend testing. What should I do?

If you have symptoms consist with COVID-19, call your medical provider to guidance on the steps that should be taken. Also, visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html to find out more information about how to address symptoms. Due to the limited of supply of COVID-19 tests, tests will be prioritized for hospitalized patients and vulnerable residence. The medical provider will determine if a patient meets the criteria for testing. Merced County Public Health does not provide COVID-19 testing and this will only be done by a medical provider.

11. Who do I call to receive test results for myself or a patient?

You or the patient will be contacted by their medical provider or by the provider that issued the prescription or referral for the test.  Be advised that test results make take up to 5-10 days.

12. I do not have symptoms but would like to test to check for immunity. Is there an antibody (convalescent plasma) test available?

People who have fully recovered from the COVID-19 infection you may have antibodies in your plasma that can attack the virus.  Please visits www.covidplasma.org or fill out the Donor Eligibility Form from www.redcrossblood.org and a Red Cross representative will follow-up with regarding your eligibility.

13. I was informed by my doctor/employer/dentist/etc... that I was exposed to COVID-19 and to self-quarantine and get tested. However, my doctor did not provide me with a test because they are limited.

Exposure to COVID-19 does not mean that you will be infected by the virus.  You should take the necessary precautions and self-isolate at home, monitor yourself and seek medical attention from your provider by phone if you develop COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath) to receive additional instruction regarding testing.

14. Where can I register for an appointment?

Testing will be available by appointment only to avoid long wait times. You can register online at https://lhi.care/covidtesting or for residents without internet access by calling: (888) 634-1123. Testing Site will be open Mondays – Fridays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

15. Do I need a prescription from my medical provider to go to the new testing site?

No, you do not need a prescription from your medical provider.

16. Will the community be notified of confirmed patient information as it becomes available to Merced County Department of Public Health (MCDPH)?

No. Due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), patient information is protected and confidential. The patient health information cannot be provided by the health care provider due to the HIPPA Privacy regulations.

MCDPH has implemented surveillance methods including monitoring suspected cases of exposure with any confirmed COVID-19 individuals. 

17. Does an individual who tests positive for COVID-19 twice get counted as two positive cases in the Merced County Confirmed Cases?

No, individuals who test positive twice are only counted as a single a positive case in the Confirmed Cases.

18. How frequently can an individual test positive for COVID-19?

An individual can test positive for COVID-19 multiple times, which is very common. A positive individual will test positive up to 6-8 weeks, well past recovery.

19. ¿Cuáles son los síntomas de COVID-19?

Las enfermedades reportadas han variado desde personas con síntomas leves hasta personas gravemente enfermas, que requieren hospitalización y fallecen. Los síntomas pueden aparecer 2-14 días después de la exposición*, que incluyen:

• Fiebre
• Tos
• Falta de aliento o dificultad para respirar
• Enfermedad severa

Lea sobre los síntomas de COVID-19 con los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC).

*Esto se basa en lo que se ha visto anteriormente como el período de incubación de los virus MERS-CoV.

20. ¿Cómo se propaga/contagia el virus?

El virus que causa COVID-19 parece propagarse de manera fácil y sostenible en la comunidad ("propagación comunitaria”) en algunas áreas geográficas afectadas. La propagación comunitaria significa que las personas han sido infectadas con el virus en una área, incluyendo algunas que no están seguras de cómo o dónde se infectaron.

Al igual que otras enfermedades respiratorias, como la influenza, los coronavirus humanos se transmiten con mayor frecuencia a otros de una persona infectada que tiene síntomas a través de:

• Gotas producidas al toser y estornudar.
• Contacto personal cercano, como cuidar a una persona infectada.
• Tocar un objeto o superficie con el virus, luego tocarse la boca, la nariz o los ojos antes de lavarse las manos.

No asuma que alguien de una raza o nacionalidad particular es mas probable que tenga COVID-19; este virus ha infectado a personas de diferentes razas y nacionalidades en todo el mundo.

Conozca lo que se sabe sobre la propagación de los coronavirus recién emergidos.

21. ¿Puede que alguien que haya tenido COVID-19 pueda transmitir la enfermedad a otros?

El virus que causa COVID-19 se está propagando de persona a persona. Alguien que está activamente enfermo con COVID-19 puede transmitir la enfermedad a otros. Es por eso que los CDC recomiendan que estos pacientes sean aislados en el hospital o en el hogar (dependiendo de qué tan enfermos estén) hasta que estén mejor y ya no presenten un riesgo de infectar a otros.

El tiempo que una persona este enferma de manera activa puede variar, por lo que la decisión sobre cuándo liberar a alguien del aislamiento se toma caso por caso en consulta con médicos, expertos en prevención y control de infecciones y funcionarios de salud pública e implica considerar aspectos específicos de cada situación incluyendo la gravedad de la enfermedad, los signos y síntomas de la enfermedad y los resultados de las pruebas de laboratorio para ese paciente.

La guia actual de los CDC sobre cuándo está bien para liberar a alguien del aislamiento se realiza caso por caso e incluye el cumplimiento de todos los siguientes requisitos:

• El paciente no tiene fiebre sin el uso de medicamentos para reducir la fiebre.
• El paciente ya no muestra síntomas, incluyendo tos.
• El paciente ha dado resultados negativos en al menos dos muestras respiratorias consecutivas obtenidas por lo menos 24 horas aparte /de differencia.

Alguien que ha sido liberado del aislamiento no es considerado como un riesgo de infeccion para otros.

22. ¿Qué es la propagación comunitaria?

La propagación comunitaria significa que las personas han sido infectadas con el virus en una área, incluyendo algunas que no están seguras de cómo o dónde se infectaron.

23. ¿Qué se puede hacer para retrasar la propagación de la infección por COVID-19?

El Condado de Merced sigue las guias proporcionadas por el Departamento de Salud Pública de California (CDPH), y el Condado recomienda fuertemente que todos practiquen el distanciamiento social de seis (6) pies entre personas para reuniones pequeñas, en este momento. Consulte el documento de guia de CDPH sobre reuniones en el siguiente enlace para obtener más detalles: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html

24. ¿Debo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19?

Si desarrolla síntomas como fiebre, tos y / o dificultad para respirar, y ha estado en contacto cercano con una persona que se sabe que tiene COVID-19 o ha viajado recientemente desde una área con propagación continua de COVID-19, quédese en casa y llame a su proveedor de atención médica. Los pacientes mayores y las personas que tienen condiciones médicas subyacentes graves o están inmunocomprometidos deben comunicarse con su proveedor de atención médica temprano, incluso si su enfermedad es leve. Si tiene síntomas graves, como dolor persistente o presión en el pecho, nueva confusión o incapacidad para levántarse o labios azulados en la cara, comuníquese con su proveedor de atención médica o sala de emergencias y busque atención médica de inmediato. Su médico determinará si tiene signos y síntomas de COVID-19 y si debe hacerse la prueba.

25. ¿Cómo está manejando el Condado el proceso de prueba?

Las limitaciones de capacidad requieren que el Oficial de Salud del Condado evalúe los criterios de elegibilidad del paciente, trabajando con proveedores médicos. El Oficial de Salud del Condado hizo una presentación en la reunión de la Junta de Supervisores del 10 de marzo de 2020, que incluye información sobre las pruebas; vea la presentación en el siguiente enlace:

https://mercedcountyca.new.swagit.com/videos/44282.

Tambien, consulte el Diagrama de Flujo de Prueba COVID-19 para obtener información sobre las guias de prueba.

26. ¿Una persona que da positivo a la prueba de COVID-19 dos veces se cuenta como dos casos positivos en los casos confirmados del condado de Merced?

No, las personas que dan positivo dos veces solo se cuentan como un solo caso positivo en los casos confirmados.

27. ¿Con qué frecuencia una persona puede dar positivo en la prueba de COVID-19?

Una persona puede dar positivo por COVID-19 varias veces, lo cual es muy común. Un individuo positivo dará positivo hasta por 6 a 8 semanas después de la recuperación.