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Health Department

Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our administration office at 10777 Main Street in Fairfax is open during regular business hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Clinic services are not offered at this location.

703-267-3511
TTY 711

health@fairfaxcounty.gov

10777 Main Street
Fairfax, VA 22030

Gloria Addo-Ayensu, M.D., M.P.H.,
Director of Health

Department Resources

IF YOU FEEL SICK

On this page:

 

SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

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 is not all inclusive. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. 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. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. 


 

If you develop symptoms that require emergency care, call 9-1-1 and follow the emergency team instructions for care before they arrive. These symptoms may include:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake or stay awake
  • Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

Note: Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

COVIDCheck

A new online risk-assessment tool to check symptoms and connect with the health care resources.

Visit VDH's COVIDCheck page

CDC Symptom Checker

A coronavirus Self-Checker to help make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care. 

Use CDC's Self-Checker

Post-COVID conditions

Post-COVID conditions (Also called long COVID) are a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems people can experience four or more weeks after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Even people who did not have COVID-19 symptoms in the days or weeks after they were infected can have post-COVID conditions.

People commonly report the following symptoms:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Tiredness or fatigue
  • Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental activities
  • Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
  • Cough
  • Chest or stomach pain
  • Headache
  • Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Pins-and-needles feeling
  • Diarrhea
  • Sleep problems
  • Fever
  • Dizziness on standing (lightheadedness)
  • Rash
  • Mood changes
  • Change in smell or taste
  • Changes in period cycles

While most people fully recover from the virus, others experience theses long-term medical problems. These  conditions can have different types and combinations of health problems for different lengths of time.

The best way to prevent these long-term complications is to prevent COVID-19. Get vaccinated today even if you already had COVID-19. 

Read more about this on the blog: COVID-19 Symptoms Can Last for Months for “Long Haulers” and on the CDC website: Post-COVID conditions.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children

While children do not appear to be at higher risk for COVID-19 than adults, VDH, CDC and other public health staff are investigating Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children (MIS-C) linked to COVID-19.  MIS-C may cause problems with a child’s heart and other systems in the body. 

Contact your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic right away if your child is showing symptoms of MIS-C:

  • Fever
  • Abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Neck pain
  • Rash
  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Feeling extra tired

Be aware that not all children will have all the same symptoms.

Seek emergency care right away if your child is showing any of these emergency warning signs of MIS-C or other concerning signs:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Pain or pressure in the chest that does not go away
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake or stay awake
  • Bluish lips or face
  • Severe abdominal pain

Learn more about Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19. 

Visit the COVID-19 and Children page for more information.

What to do if you are sick

If you have these symptoms or if you had an exposure to COVID-19, take the following steps to help protect other people in your home and community:

Coronavirus testing

You should get tested for COVID-19 if you have any symptoms — even if you have had the COVID-19 vaccine — or if you spent time with someone who has symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days. Testing for COVID-19 is available in many locations across Fairfax Health District. If you need a test, contact your health care provider or visit one of the sites offering testing.

Learn More & Find Locations

If you are being tested for COVID-19

If you are sick and if your healthcare provider is currently testing you for COVID-19, while you are awaiting laboratory results, it is crucial that you follow prevention steps until you receive a negative laboratory result, or your Local Health Department says you can return to your normal activities.

What to Do If You Are Sick

How long do I need to self-quarantine or self-isolate?

Find out how long you you need to stay home and away from others if you have COVID-19 or were in contact with someone who does.

See also: Social Distancing, Self-Isolating and Quarantine: What Do These Terms Mean?

See the Guidance
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