COVID-19: TESTING & ISOLATION INSTRUCTIONS

SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild symptoms to severe illness and vary by individual. Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear up to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may include one or more of the following:

  • Fever or chills
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • New loss of taste or smell (most prevalent with the delta variant as an early indicator of COVID-19 infection)

Patients experiencing symptoms listed above and/or close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 should always call before arriving at any health care location. If you are urgently ill, please inform 911, the ambulance staff and/or emergency department registration staff that you may have COVID-19.

quarantine and isolation guidelines

When you are exposed to COVID, experience symptoms or test positive, it can be confusing to understand when to quarantine or isolate and for how long. Isolation relates to behavior after a confirmed infection. Quarantine refers to the time following exposure to the virus or close contact with someone known to have COVID-19.

TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

The CDC recommends that members of the general public who test positive - regardless of vaccination status - should stay home (isolate) for a minimum of five days. After five days, if you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving, members of the public could leave their house, but should continue to wear a mask at all times when around others for five additional days. If you continue to have a fever, stay home until your fever resolves.

EXPOSURE TO COVID-19

For members of the general public who were exposed to someone with COVID-19, the CDC recommends those who have been boosted or completed their primary vaccination series of Pfizer/Moderna within the last six months or the J&J vaccine within the last two months to wear a mask around others for ten days and take a COVID test on day five. If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home.

Members of the general public who were exposed to someone with COVID-19 and who are unvaccinated or who completed their Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series over six months ago or received the J&J vaccine more than two months ago and are not yet boosted should stay home (quarantine) for five days and continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days. If you cannot quarantine, you should wear a mask for ten days. Take a test on day five if possible. If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home.

Please note that health care workers should consult with their employer regarding specific guidelines for isolation and/or quarantine at their place of employment.

Seeking care

Those with symptoms who need medical attention should call before arriving at any health care location. Any individual who is urgently ill and requires immediate medical attention should inform 911, the ambulance staff and/or emergency department registration staff that they may have COVID-19.

If you have questions about your potential health risk, please call your primary care provider or the Tennessee Department of Health Coronavirus Public Information Line at 877.857.2945. 

COVID-19 Testing

Testing is recommended for those who have COVID-19 symptoms and those who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 as well as those who have been asked to get tested by their school, workplace, health care provider or other entity.

Maury Regional Urgent Care offers testing for symptomatic patients along with Maury Regional Medical Group primary care practices for current patients. Additional testing options include local health departments, retail pharmacies and urgent care or walk-in facilities. Testing times and locations may vary. Please wear a mask at all times.

Self-testing options are also available as a method of reducing the chance of COVID transmission. At-home test kits may be obtained in a number of ways, including through pharmacy and retail store locations as well as local health departments. Click here to see a list of FDA-authorized self-tests and instructions for home use.

Please note that the Maury Regional Medical Center Emergency Department only tests COVID-symptomatic patients seeking care. Additional testing options for non-symptomatic patients include local health departments, retail pharmacies and at-home tests.