What to do

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus COVID-19

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath. If you are seriously ill with COVID-19 symptoms and have a medical emergency, call 911. Notify the dispatch personnel that you have COVID-19 symptoms and advise them of any exposure history. If possible, put on a facemask or face covering before emergency medical services arrive or immediately after they arrive. 

If you have mild to moderate symptoms, you should discuss your illness your healthcare provider over the phone. If you have any of the conditions that may increase your risk for a serious infection, such as being 65 years of age or older, are pregnant, or have medical conditions, tell your healthcare provider, as he/she may want to monitor your health more closely. If you need medical care, be sure to call your healthcare provider BEFORE arriving and tell them that you have symptoms that could be from COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed. If you don’t need to see a doctor but have COVID-19 symptoms press # for information on testing sites.
 

Information about testing for coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19

Testing is becoming more widely available in Georgia. There are various approaches to testing,  and the current strategy in Georgia is to test anyone with COVID-19 symptoms and certain groups of asymptomatic people, including healthcare workers, first responders, critical infrastructure workers, or someone who resides in a congregate housing or group housing setting who had known exposure to someone with COVID-19. 

Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious illness and should always consult their healthcare provider if sick. You should discuss your illness with your healthcare provider, and they will determine if you need to be evaluated and tested.
There are multiple ways to get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or meet any of the other criteria, by going through your healthcare provider’s office. Be sure to call your healthcare provider BEFORE arriving and tell them you are interested in getting tested for COVID-19. 
 
You can also get tested through a Department of Public Health (DPH) specimen collection site. Individuals who meet COVID-19 testing criteria may now be referred to DPH specimen collection sites by contacting their local health department. They will be screened by health department staff and referred to the closest, most convenient specimen collection site. Testing is currently available at no charge to the public.  Contact information for local health departments can be found on the DPH homepage at d p h dot Georgia dot g o v at the section called “COVID-19 in Georgia”. 
Also, CVS Health has opened a drive-thru rapid COVID-19 testing site on Georgia Tech’s campus in Atlanta. Here too, testing is currently available at no charge to the public. People will need to be pre-screened online and register for a test in advance. Click here:  for more information.
 

What to do if you have been exposed to someone with coronavirus COVID-19

If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should monitor your health for fever, cough and shortness of breath during the 14 days after the last day you were in close contact with the sick person with COVID-19. You should not go to work or school and should avoid public places for 14 days.

If you get sick and you are 60 years old or older, pregnant, or have other medical conditions, you may be at increased risk of serious infection and should notify your physician's office that you were exposed to COVID-19. Do not go to the office unless advised to do so, as they may want to monitor your health more closely, but have you stay at home.

If you get sick with fever, cough or shortness of breath and you don't need medical care, you should stay at home and away from other people for 72 hours after fever is gone and other symptoms have improved, whichever is longer. Notify people who have been in close contact with you so they can also monitor themselves for illness.

What to do if you tested positive for COVID-19 or suspect you have the disease

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 you should remain under home isolation precautions for 7 days from the date of your positive COVID-19 lab test, or until 72 hours after your fever is gone and your symptoms have gotten better, whichever is longer.

If you are suspected of having COVID-19 infection, you should remain under home isolation precautions until 72 hours after your fever is gone and your symptoms have gotten better, whichever is longer. Please see the Georgia Department of Public Health's website for more information on what you can do to help prevent others from getting exposed. 

 

What to do about keeping your business open or can you reopen at this time

Businesses wishing to remain open or reopen after closing due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions need to follow all applicable orders from Federal, State, and local governments. These include, but are not limited to, restrictions on opening and closing hours, spacing required to be maintained between persons, and types of services permitted to be provided. GA Public Health does not have authority to change the orders of Federal, State, or local governments, and does not regulate the opening or closing of businesses of any type. Therefore, concerns about opening or reopening should be addressed with the agency promulgating these restrictions.