On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced COVID-19 as the official name of the disease responsible for causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak. The breakdown of the name COVID-19 is “CO” for corona, “VI” for virus, “D” for disease, and “-19” for 2019.

Not everyone with COVID-19 develops symptoms. Amongst those with COVID-19, a wide range of symptoms have been reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with any of the following 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 is not an all-inclusive list. Visit the CDC website for the most up-to-date list of symptoms.

Person-to-person spread (through respiratory droplets produced when a person sneezes, coughs, or talks) is believed to be the main way the COVID-19 virus is spreading – between people who are in close contact with one another (6 feet/2 meters or less for a cumulative total of 15 minutes over a 24 hour period).

Airborne transmission of COVID-19 may also be possible under certain conditions. There is evidence that under certain conditions, people with COVID-19 seem to have infected others who were more than 6 feet away. These transmissions occurred within enclosed spaces that had inadequate ventilation. Sometimes the infected person was breathing heavily, for example while singing or exercising.

Contact with Infected Surfaces or Objects – It may be possible to get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching one’s mouth, nose, or eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Health plans are required to cover COVID-19 tests at no cost to the enrollee. It is recommended that you first contact your healthcare provider for a COVID-19 test.

If you are unable to get a test from your healthcare provider, the County of San Diego (County) has over 50 free COVID-19 testing sites throughout the region. Results generally come back in approximately 3 days. Find a free testing site or call 2-1-1.

Most children, youth, and their caregivers can receive testing through the COVID-19 Collaborative for Children in partnership with Rady Children's Hospital. Contact your Rady pediatrician or e-mail covidcollaborative@rchsd.org for more information.

Children, youth and caregivers covered by Kaiser Permanente should consult with their pediatrician or physician provider directly, or through www.kp.org.

If you are unable to get a test for your child or youth from your healthcare provider, children 6 months old and older are able to be tested at any County test site. Find a free testing site or call 2-1-1.

If you need help finding medical care, call 2-1-1, which is available 24/7 to refer you to your closest community health clinic.

If you are having difficulty breathing or keeping fluids down, go to an emergency room or call 911 right away.

According to the CDC, quarantine is not required for those who gained immunity within three months.

People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered do not have to quarantine or get tested again as long as they do not develop new symptoms.

People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.

People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated against the disease within the last three months and show no symptoms.

Review the following documents for more information:

County of San Diego: Health Officer Order-Quarantine of people exposed to COVID-19

CDC: When to Quarantine

CDC: Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People

CDC: Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States

• An individual infected with COVID-19 can spread the virus even if they do not feel sick. Wearing a mask blocks respiratory droplets from being released into the air when someone coughs, sneezes, speaks, or breathes. Because these droplets can travel six feet before settling to the ground or other surface, social distancing may not be enough to ensure people are protected. Wearing a face covering reduces the spread of these droplets and the ability of them to infect others.

• There is evidence that shows that wearing a mask also helps to protect the wearer from COVID-19. For these reasons, San Diegans should wear a mask when in the settings where masks are required for everyone. Masks are required for unvaccinated individuals in indoor public settings and businesses. While infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, masks are recommended for vaccinated individuals in indoor public settings in order to reduce their risk of becoming infected with the Delta variant and potentially spreading it to others. Learn more about CDC guidance for fully vaccinated individuals.

The County of San Diego is working closely with federal and state agencies and the local healthcare community to monitor and test for the COVID-19 virus in the region. In addition, the County of San Diego holds press briefings on Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. to provide updates on the COVID-19 situation in San Diego County. These can be viewed live or on-demand on the County of San Diego's YouTube channel.

For information on the current situation in San Diego county, visit our Coronavirus in San Diego County web page.