Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Questions

Additional FAQs

How long does a COVID PCR test result take?

COVID test results are usually available 2-5 days. The provider that administers the test provides the result. Please contact the provider that administered your test for the results. Some providers will be send out an email with a link to create an account to access your results.

I don’t feel sick, so why should I get tested?

People can spread COVID-19 without knowing that they are sick, so protect your family, friends, and neighbors by getting tested. You can get tested for free, whether you have symptoms or not. People who are at higher risk, such as healthcare workers, first responders, people living with or caring for the elderly, and workers with lots of contact with the public, should get tested at least monthly. Employees in certain sensitive professions may be notified by their employer if they need to be tested more frequently than once a month.

Widespread testing provides a more accurate picture of how many cases exist in our community and where the virus is spreading. It also helps identify people without symptoms who could be spreading COVID-19 so that they can stay away from work and public places until their infectious period is over. Testing is one of the key indicators we are tracking as we assess whether, and to what extent, we can move away from the existing shelter-in-place restrictions.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19

Most common symptoms include:

  • Fever, Headache, Sore Throat
  • Cough, Difficulty Breathing
  • Chills, Repeated shaking with Chills
  • Muscle Pain
  • New Loss of Taste or Smell
  • Temperature of 100.4 or greater

What is considered an exposure to someone with Covid or a "close contact"?

  • In indoor spaces of 400,000 or fewer cubic feet per floor (such as homes, clinic waiting rooms, airplanes, etc.), close contact is defined as sharing the same indoor airspace for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during a confirmed case's infectious period.
  • In large indoor spaces greater than 400,000 cubic feet per floor (such as open-floor-plan offices, warehouses, large retail stores, manufacturing, or food processing facilities), close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of the infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during the confirmed case's infectious period.

Spaces that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls (e.g., offices, suites, rooms, waiting areas, bathrooms, or break or eating areas that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls) must be considered distinct indoor airspaces.

My CDC COVID-19 Vaccination card was lost, misplaced or stolen. Can I get a replacement?

The answer depends on your vaccination status and where you were vaccinated.

If you lost your card before getting your second dose, you can ask for a replacement card when you get your second dose.

If you lost your card after you received your final dose, you may be able to get a replacement card by contacting the healthcare provider where you were originally vaccinated. If the site where you were vaccinated has closed or is unable to assist you, you will need to work through the State to obtain a digital vaccination record.

To request a copy of your digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record from the State, in the form of a QR Code, visit https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov. If you are not able to access the State’s Vaccination database, you should contact the state directly through their on-line chat. It may take 2 to 3 weeks to replace or change your record.