FAQ - Symptoms and Testing
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What are the signs and symptoms of COVID-19? 
  • Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, cough and fever. These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.  Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
What should I do if I'm sick and need to go to the hospital?
  • If you are feeling sick, please first call your doctor, a nurse hotline, or an urgent care center first.
  • If you do develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19, get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include*:
    • Trouble breathing
    • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
    • New confusion or inability to arouse
    • Bluish lips on face
    *This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
Can you spread coronavirus without symptoms?
  • The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, between people who are in close contact with each other (within 6 feet) and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
  • These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people nearby or possible be inhaled into the lungs. 
Can someone spread the virus without being sick?
  • People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
  • Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; however, there have been reports of this occurring with the new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

How is testing conducted for Solano County residents? 

  • ​Your healthcare provider will determine if you meet the criteria for testing. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your healthcare provider can order a testing for you and have the results processed through the Solano Public Health Lab OR commercial labs (like Quest and LabCorp) OR hospital laboratories (like Kaiser, UCD Medical Center and UCSF) in California. Statewide, our ability to test patients is improving, but testing remains limited because of the limited number of supply kits and the high demand for testing. Prioritizing testing will ensure that people who most need testing can get results rapidly and reduce strain on the health care system.
  • Please note that a majority of people who get COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms and don’t need to be tested. CDC is recommending testing for people with symptoms and have underlying health conditions or at higher risk of developing severe complications from the disease.

Who gets tested for COVID-19?

  • Your healthcare provider can determine whether or not testing is needed depending on your risk and the severity of your symptoms. COVID-19 testing options are currently available upon clinician referral only. COVID-19 testing is being prioritized for people who have a fever, cough and/or shortness of breath and are part of the following:
    • People who are hospitalized and significantly ill where no other causes have been identified
    • People living or working in a long-term care facility, including nursing facilities or assisted living facilities
    • Someone who resides or works at a correctional facility
    • Chronically homeless
    • People who are 65 and older with a chronic medical condition or immunocompromised
    • Health care workers and other emergency responders
    • Daycare center worker
  • The CDPH guidance that healthcare providers that show testing prioritization is available at www.bit.ly/cdphcovid19testing
  • Contact your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, and fever. For more on symptoms information visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/index.html