Fever free for 24 hours and with improving symptoms.
**This guidance is for the general population, for school staff and students Follow the guidance of your doctor which may be specific to your individual health needs. In general, if you have symptoms, stay at home until you are fever free for at least 24 hours (without the aid of fever reducing medication) and 10 days after your symptoms have resolved.**
People may be sick infected with the virus for 1 to 14 days before developing symptoms. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- fever
- tiredness
- dry cough
- shortness of breath
Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. However, if you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include*:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or inability to arouse
- Bluish lips or face
*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
Fever, cough or shortness of breath does not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. However, in order to protect others, you should act as though you do. Call your healthcare provider for advice. Stay at home and isolate yourself from others in your home for at least 10 days after your first symptoms AND are fever free for the most recent 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine), AND other symptoms improve.
Source: Marin HHS, CDC
Follow the guidance of your doctor which may be specific to your individual health needs. In general, if you have symptoms, stay at home until you are fever free for at least 24 hours (without the aid of fever reducing medication) and 10 days after your symptoms have resolved.
Source: Marin HHS
As defined by the CDC, a Person Under Investigation (PUI) is any person currently under investigation for having the virus that causes COVID-19. A Person Under Investigation should be directed to COVID testing and quarantine under the guidance of their health care professional or Marin Public Health.
Source: CDC, Marin HHS
If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, you should contact your medical provider to discuss whether you are a candidate for testing.
There are multiple testing options county-wide. If you are not able to obtain testing through your medical provider, free confidential testing is available in Marin and the Bay Area. Search for your nearest testing location by zipcode.
The State of California has joined with County of Marin and OptumServe to expand testing for underserved communities. A dedicated testing site is available in San Rafael by appointment only. Make an appointment at https://lhi.care/covidtesting. If you do not have internet access, call: 1-888-634-1123. This site is open to uninsured, underinsured, undocumented and homeless individuals. If you have medical insurance, OptumServe will bill your insurance company. Tests for uninsured individuals will be paid for by the state.
The majority of people will have mild illness that is best treated at home. However, those with serious illness will be treated regardless of insurance status. Advisors will work with uninsured patients to find the best options for coverage.
Some resources for uninsured people include:
- Check with your local community health center or hospital to see if fees for testing can be waived.
- See if you’re eligible for Medi-Cal.
- See if you’re eligible for Covered California.
- See if you are eligible for care at a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center.
Source: Marin HHS, State of California
Testing starts with your medical provider. Anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should immediately call their medical provider and seek testing.
Your medical provider will want to test for possible conditions such as flu, strep, or pneumonia. If your doctor believes you are a candidate for testing, they will refer you to either Marin Public Health or a suitable test center to conduct the testing.
Marin County Public Health also recommends testing for some groups, even if they do not have symptoms, including:
- All persons who were notified that they were exposed to someone who was confirmed to have COVID-19; and
- All persons who were notified by Marin Public Health as being high risk based on outbreak investigations; and
- All essential public and private sector workers (cities and town workers included); and
- Certain occupations with higher risk of exposures, including some healthcare workers and first responders. Testing for these individuals is arranged through their employer.
Learn more about COVID-19 testing in Marin County by visiting our Testing Information webpage.
If you think you have had an exposure to COVID-19, you should wait 4-5 days from day of exposure prior to getting tested. As defined by the CDC "The incubation period for COVID-19 is thought to extend to 14 days, with a median time of 4-5 days from exposure to symptoms onset.1-3 One study reported that 97.5% of persons with COVID-19 who develop symptoms will do so within 11.5 days of SARS-CoV-2 infection.3"
No, please do not call 911 unless you have a true emergency. We have noticed an increase in 911 calls for service with patients who have fevers and minor symptoms. While we recognize many are concerned about COVID-19, such symptoms do not require 911 ambulance response. The most appropriate response to such symptoms is to reach out to your medical provider. This will allow our emergency response system to stay fully available for medical emergencies.
Venues / private event operators are responsible for verifying there is documentation of guests’ testing or vaccination status if they seek to maximize capacity, allow households to mix while seated, or alter event operations (see below – private events where ALL guests are verified by venue or event operator to be fully vaccinated).
Marin County Public Health is reporting test results based on laboratory reporting to the state. On March 24, Bay Area public health officers issued an order that requires commercial labs to report all results (positive and negative). But we are still seeing lags in reporting, which makes it difficult for public health officials to provide an accurate testing picture for Marin.
You can view current test results on our data page.
Learn more about COVID-19 testing in Marin County by visiting our Testing Information webpage.
Source: Marin HHS
If you are feeling sick, first call your doctor, a nurse hotline, or an urgent care center before going to the hospital. You can and should seek medical advice if you or a family member is sick. If it is not an emergency, please contact your primary care provider to determine next steps. Do not go to the emergency room of a hospital unless you are having an actual emergency. If you are having a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your closest emergency room. Also, you can check online resources to help you assess symptoms if you are worried about whether you or a loved one has COVID-19. You should check www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ for more information.
Source: CDC, Marin HHS
Isolation is when a person with COVID-19 stays away from everyone, including the people he/she lives with, in order to avoid getting others sick. A person must isolate for at least 10 days after the first symptoms AND be fever free for the most recent 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine), and other symptoms improve. If someone is COVID-19 positive, but without symptoms, they must isolate for at least 10 days from the date of their positive test.
Quarantine is when people who have come in contact with someone sick with COVID-19, they must stay at home until they know if they are sick. A person must quarantine for 10 days after the last contact with an infected person.
If you do not develop symptoms, your quarantine can end:
- On day 10 from when you were last in close contact with the person with COVID-19; OR
- On day 7 from when you were last in close contact with the person with COVID-19, IF you are tested for COVID-19 on day 5 or later AND the test result is negative.
If you are not able to avoid contact with a person with COVID-19, you must stay in quarantine until 10 days from when the person with COVID-19 completes their isolation period. Your quarantine period is likely to be at least 21 days total.
Please read Marin County’s At Home Quarantine & Isolation Safety guidance document for important information and practical tips.