When should you or a loved one get tested for symptoms of COVID-19 illness? Is an urgent care facility the right place to receive testing with accurate results? In this blog, we will provide the answers to these questions to help you make the right decisions for your health.
What Are the Symptoms of COVID-19?
COVID-19 illness is caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It produces symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The most common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue and body aches
- Loss of taste and/or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
These symptoms may develop five to six days after someone is exposed to the virus. Exposure comes through contact with respiratory droplets from a cough or sneeze, or other bodily fluids. COVID-19 illness symptoms may last anywhere from one to two days to 14 days or more. Long COVID features symptoms which last for weeks or even months after the initial illness.
Unfortunately, not everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will experience symptoms. Some people may be asymptomatic carriers. This means they have the virus but do not feel or appear sick to others.
People who are medically fragile are the ones most compromised by COVID-19 illness. This includes anyone with a serious chronic condition, such as diabetes or asthma, the elderly, and the very young. These individuals may develop symptoms which require hospitalization.
Examples of more severe COVID-19 symptoms requiring prompt treatment include loss of consciousness, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. If you or your loved ones experience any of these symptoms, you should be evaluated right away by a medical professional.
When to Seek Testing for COVID-19 Illness
If you are experiencing any of the above discussed symptoms and/or believe you have been exposed to COVID-19, you should get tested. For your convenience and prompt treatment, Cardinal Urgent Care provides readily accessible and accurate COVID-19 testing.
There are two ways to test for COVID-19 illness. The quickest assessment is the antigen test which detects the proteins the virus itself produces. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, on the other hand, checks for the virus’s own genetic material. Results from the antigen test typically are available within 15-30 minutes. However, it can take up to three days PCR test results.
Both tests evaluate mucus samples obtained through simple nasal swabs. These COVID-19 tests feature high sensitivity rates and can accurately assist a healthcare provider in diagnosing COVID-19 illness. They provide the information you need to take proper care of your health needs and of those you contact at home, at work, and in the community.
COVID-19 Testing at an Urgent Care Facility
Getting tested for COVID-19 illness is as simple as visiting your local urgent care clinic. Once you arrive, you will present your photo ID and insurance information to the receptionist. Then, you will receive your test in
a treatment room. Results of the COVID-19 test can be available the same day or the next day, depending on the kind of test you receive.
Before visiting your local urgent care center for your COVID-19 testing, be sure you:
- Do not smoke, vape, eat, or drink for at least 30 minutes before you arrive
- Avoid using any kind of nasal sprays–saline or antihistamines as examples–for at least 30 minutes before you arrive
- Are prepared to wait for results
Urgent Care COVID-19 Testing in King, NC
At Cardinal Urgent Care, we value our patients’ health and strive to provide the best urgent and routine healthcare in a fully accessible way. Our team of experienced providers, including board-certified emergency care physician and Cardinal Urgent Care founder Dr. Samir Patel, are equipped to help with your COVID-19 testing needs. We are fully trained and experienced in obtaining the necessary sample for accurate results and conduct the lab analysis right onsite.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, have been exposed through contact with a sick person, work in a high-risk environment, or have traveled internationally, see us for a test. We are open seven days a week and would be happy to assist you without an appointment.
For more information about COVID-19 testing or other onsite services, call our clinic today at (336) 980-9111. You can also reserve an appointment online here. We look forward to helping you and your family experience the best possible health and wellness.
