Frequently Asked Questions

Symptoms & Testing

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

According to the CDC, symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure, with an average of 4-5 days. People with these symptoms or a combination of symptoms my have COVID-19:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

CALL YOUR DOCTOR: Patients who have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek care immediately, and should call their health care provider before going in to be seen. Older patients and individuals who have underlying medical conditions or are immunocompromised should contact their health care provider early, even for mild illnesses.https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

Call Your Doctor if you have a fever, cough, shortness of breath
Who should be tested?

People who are a close contact to a confirmed case of COVID-19 or traveled to or live in an area of ongoing community spread of COVID-19, and develop symptoms of COVID-19 should seek out a COVID-19 test.  

  • Patients who have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek care immediately.
  • Older patients and individuals who have underlying medical conditions or are immunocompromised should contact their health care provider early, even for mild illnesses.

COVID testing is available for at-home and in person testing. Go to our COVID-19 testing page to find the right type of test for you.

Who decides who gets tested?

Everyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 or is a close contact of someone who has COVID-19 should get tested. Test kits are available to the public through Test Iowa for no charge.  No healthcare visit is required to get one.  The federal government has also provided free rapid test kits for each household in the US.  Test kits may also be found at your local pharmacy.  Health care providers, with guidance from CDC and public health, may also determine if one of their patients needs a test.  Some medical facilities test patients upon admission to the hospital and prior to procedures.  

Who pays for testing?

Federal and state resources are being announced daily to assist all Americans and the health care systems with testing.

Find local, state, and federal testing options on the COVID-19 Testing page on this website.
You can find more information about federal resources as well as Medicare and Medicaid coverage here: https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/disaster-response-toolkit/covid19/index.html

In Iowa, tests that are sent to the State Hygienic Laboratory are provided at no cost and considered a test of public health significance. Private lab testing may incur a fee. Many health insurance companies are already waiving fees for the testing if a health care provider determines that a test is needed. Check your insurance provider’s webpage or hotline for your individual coverage.

Where can I get a COVID-19 Test?

COVID-19 testing is widely available in Black Hawk County. Testing resources within Black Hawk County can be located on our website: https://www.bhcpublichealth.org/covid-19/testing.