Frequently Asked Questions

Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 report mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms of COVID-19 may show up 2-14 days after exposure and may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

General population: If you are in generally good health and have a mild illness, stay home, and take care of yourself like you would for the flu. If symptoms worsen, call your doctor.

At-Risk Populations: If you are 65 years or older and/or have other medical problems like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or cancer – and have fever or symptoms – call your doctor. If you are not sick enough to be hospitalized, you can recover at home. Follow your physician’s instructions or refer to CDC guidance for how to take care of yourself at home. Follow CDC instructions for how to take care of yourself at home.

Your doctor will help make the decision whether you should get tested for coronavirus. Some public health labs in Texas are now testing, and local or regional health departments must approve each test.

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus and other infectious illnesses, please follow good hygiene practices including:

• Wash hands often, for 20 seconds and encourage others to do the same.
• If no soap and water are available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Disinfect surfaces, buttons, handles, knobs, and other frequently-touched places.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.