COVID-19 Symptoms & Self-Care

Symptoms

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person.

Symptoms can include fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher), cough, trouble breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell.
According to the CDC, illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. Symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure.
Not everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19. Most people will have mild illness and be able to recover at home.
Persons can be infected with COVID-19 and pose a risk to others without noticing any symptoms.
Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19. Seek care early.

CDC Coronavirus Self-Checker
VDH COVIDCheck
COVIDWISE Exposure Notifications App

Help Stop the Spread

COVID-19 is everywhere in our community and all areas in Loudoun are at risk. As cases continue to rise in our area and with evidence of community transmission, it becomes more difficult to know everyone who may be at risk of being exposed.

To assist residents with identifying the signs of illness and knowing what do to if they become sick, the county has published a guide that lists steps that will slow the spread of COVID-19 in Loudoun (PDF).

Residents are encouraged to follow these instructions to self-monitor illness and to inform close contacts when becoming ill.

What to Do if You are Sick

If you develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your doctor or an urgent care center to discuss.
- If you do not have access to a healthcare provider, contact the INOVA Loudoun Patient Access Center at 855-464-3627.
- If you do not have insurance contact Inova Cares Clinic for Families in Sterling at 571-665-6526. See this flyer for information in Arabic, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean. Information for the uninsured through Cover Virginia.
- CVS pharmacies in Virginia are offering testing offering self-swab kits with an employee watching. Individuals must have appointments and can register at the CVS COVID-10 Testing website. This is a self-administered nasal swab test. For safety reasons, no walk ups are permitted, drive-up patients only. The two Loudoun locations are in Leesburg at:
  - CVS Pharmacy, 616 East Market Street
  - CVS Pharmacy, 19305 Ruby Drive
- Map of VDH COVID-19 Testing Sites
- You should not go to any emergency room unless it is an emergency, for example, you are having difficulty breathing.
- The Loudoun County Health Department does not provide testing or evaluate ill individuals.
Stay home. Avoid contact with others, do not share personal items, and use a separate bedroom and bathroom, if possible.
Monitor your health. Call 911 if you develop trouble breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, or bluish lips or face.
Wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth when around other people.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces every day.
Do not leave home until fever-free for 24 hours (without medication) AND at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
Inform close contacts. Talk to everyone who has been within 6 feet for more than a few minutes while you were sick, including the 48 hours BEFORE you developed symptoms. Encourage them to stay home for 14 days and provide them the above guidance for those who had close contact with someone who is sick.
Learn more from the Virginia Department of Health.