COVID-19

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. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. 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

This list does not include all possible symptoms. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.

If you are experiencing these symptoms and think you have or have been exposed to COVID-19, do NOT go directly to your doctor's office or an urgent care location without first calling to alert them of your possible COVID-19 exposure or infection. This helps our team stay healthy while we focus on treating our neighbors and preventing further exposure.

Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. These droplets and particles can be breathed in by other people or land on their eyes, noses or mouth. In some circumstances, they may contaminate surfaces they touch. People who are closer than 6 feet from the infected person are most likely to get infected.

COVID-19 is spread in three main ways:

• Breathing in air when close to an infected person who is exhaling small droplets and particles that contain the virus.
• Having these small droplets and particles that contain the virus land on the eyes, nose or mouth, especially through splashes and sprays like a cough or sneeze.
• Touching eyes, nose or mouth with hands that have the virus on them.

For more information about how COVID-19 spreads, visit the How COVID-19 Spreads page to learn how COVID-19 spreads and how to protect yourself.

CaroMont Health offers COVID-19 testing in most primary care offices and urgent cares. You can also visit your state or local health department’s website or any local pharmacy for testing availability. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested, call your healthcare provider first.

The CDC has outlined measures for domestic and international travel. Review their guidelines here.

To help protect the health of our patients and employees, CaroMont Health has expanded visitor restrictions for CaroMont Regional Medical Center, the Birthplace and CaroMont Medical Group. Restrictions are in accordance with the latest guidance from federal, state and local health officials and are aimed at helping control the spread of respiratory illnesses, like Coronavirus (COVID-19). Click here for more information.

First booster shots are recommended at least six months after completion of the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine. Those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can receive a booster of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least two months after first dose. Use this link to help determine when/if you should consider an additional booster. 

If you wish to receive a booster dose, please visit CaroMont Health or visit a pharmacy of your choice.

Boosters of the COVID-19 vaccine is approved and strongly recommended for those who are immunocompromised. Emerging data suggest some people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems do not always build the same level of immunity after vaccination and can get extra protection from an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Please contact your provider with questions or to schedule an appointment.

To learn more about booster shots, click here.

Yes, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you have COVID-19. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible-although rare-that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again. Studies have shown that vaccination provides a strong boost in protection in people who have recovered from COVID-19. Learn more about why getting vaccinated is a safer way to build protection than getting infected.

If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

If you or your child has a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults or children (MIS-A or MIS-C), consider delaying vaccination until you or your child have recovered from being sick and for 90 days after the date of diagnosis of MIS-A or MIS-C. Learn more about the clinical considerations people with a history of multisystem MIS-C or MIS-A.

Yes, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 5 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now or might become pregnant in the future. You might want to have a conversation with your healthcare provider about COVID-19 vaccination. While such a conversation might be helpful, it is not required before vaccination. Learn more about vaccination considerations for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

After you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, you can resume many activities without wearing a mask or staying six feet apart, except:

• if you are indoors in public and you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
• or where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.