Prince George's County, Maryland, USA

Covid-19

Covid-19

 


1. What are the symptoms of 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

*Note that this list does not include all possible symptoms.

2. What are the recommendations for someone who has symptoms of COVID-19?

If you start to feel symptoms, get tested and stay home. If you are positive, or if you still feel symptoms, follow the steps below to care for yourself and to help protect other people in your home and community.

  • Stay at home (except to get medical care).
  • Separate yourself from others.
  • Monitor your symptoms.
  • Wear a well-fitting mask over your nose and mouth when around others.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes.
  • Wash your hands often.
  • Clean high-touch surfaces every day.
  • Avoid sharing personal household items.

Please read the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on isolation and quarantine for people who test positive or are identified as close contacts of a positive case.

3. What are the Tools to fight COVID-19?

 Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission, and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging. Surgical masks, KN95 masks, and N95 masks provide the best protection against getting infected or spreading COVID-19.
Tests can tell you if you are currently infected with COVID-19.

4. Why should you wear a mask?

Wearing a well-fitting mask over your nose and mouth helps reduce COVID-19 transmission whether you are vaccinated or not.

Wearing a mask is very important if you or someone in your household:

  • Has COVID-19
  • Has a weakened immune system
  • Has an underlying medical condition
  • Is an older adult
  • Is not fully vaccinated

5. Why should my child get vaccinated against COVID-19?

Vaccinating children ages 5 years and older can help protect them from getting COVID-19, spreading the virus to others, and getting sick if they do get infected. While COVID-19 tends to be milder in children than adults, it can make children very sick, require hospitalization, and some children have even died. Children with underlying medical conditions are more at risk for severe illness compared to children without underlying medical conditions.
Getting your child vaccinated helps to protect your child and your family, including siblings who are not eligible for vaccination and family members who may be at risk of getting very sick if infected. Vaccination is now recommended for everyone ages 5 years and older. Currently, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only one available to children ages 5 to 17 years.

6. How long do I need to wait after getting a flu vaccine or another vaccine before getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same visit. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, and possible side effects after getting vaccinated are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.

7. Can I get vaccinated against COVID-19 while I am currently sick with COVID-19?

No. People with COVID-19 who have symptoms should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation; those without symptoms should also wait until they meet the criteria before getting vaccinated. This guidance also applies to people who get COVID-19 before getting their second dose of vaccine.

People who have had a known COVID-19 exposure should not seek vaccination until their quarantine period has ended to avoid potentially exposing healthcare personnel and others during the vaccination visit. This recommendation also applies to people with a known COVID-19 exposure who have received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) but not their second.

8. When should a self-test be used?

Self-tests may be used if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19. Even if you don’t have symptoms and have not been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, using a self-test before gathering with others can give you information about the risk of spreading the virus to others. If you are positive, please do not attend gatherings.

9. Who can get a booster?

Pfizer-BioNTech

  • Everyone 12 years and older

When to get a booster:

  • At least 5 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series

Moderna

  • Adults 18 years and older

When to get a booster:

  • At least 6 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series

Johnson & Johnson’s

  • Adults 18 years and older

When to get a booster:

  • At least 2 months after receiving your J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination

10. Where can I find a COVID-19 vaccination clinic?

A full list of clinic locations and hours of operation, as well as a Countywide vaccine clinic locator can be found HERE.

11. Where can I find a COVID-19 testing clinic?

To find a full list of all testing sites in the County, please use our testing site locator.