Coronavirus In Montgomery County: What To Do If You Have Symptoms

BETHESDA, MD — Not everyone needs to get tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. A vast majority of people will exhibit mild symptoms — such as fever, fatigue, and dry cough — and can recover at home.

If you're worried that you have COVID-19, here are recommendations from experts on what to do:

1. Stay Home And Contact A Health Care Provider

Got symptoms? Stay home.

Dr. Travis Gayles, Montgomery County's health officer, says you should stay away from people in your home as much as possible. Don't take public transportation, run errands, or meet up with friends.

Before you run to the nearest hospital or doctor's office, call a health care provider.

"Your physician or health care provider will assess your symptoms and determine if diagnostic testing for the COVID-19 virus is appropriate. If your health care provider suspects COVID-19, THEY will coordinate testing with a commercial lab or the State's public health laboratory," county officials said.

You can also call a nurse working for the county's disease unit. The number is 240-777-1755.

However, if you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 and tell the operator that you may have COVID-19. If possible, put on a face mask before help arrives.

2. Follow The Health Care Provider's Guidance

Listen to what your health care provider tells you. If you're sick, wear a face mask. Otherwise, improvise by using a scarf or bandana, the CDC says.

Continue to monitor your symptoms and keep in touch with your doctor.

You may be asked to get tested. To get your hands on a test kit, you must have a doctor's referral and meet the hospital or clinic's screening criteria, according to county councilmember Evan Glass.

3. Get Tested If Needed

Tests are being given in a number of locations in Montgomery County. But test kits may be in short supply. That means you may not get tested immediately. But keep calm and continue to wash your hands, sanitize frequently touched surfaces, and stay away from others.

Glass, who sits on the county's Health and Human Services committee, says you can finding testing at various locations, including:

• Kaiser Permanente
  • It has testing sites for its members in Gaithersburg
• Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center
  • Testing is available only to critically ill patients who are likely to need hospitalization
• Some MedStar Health centers
  • Call the clinic or hospital first
• Holy Cross hospitals
  • The hospital system has tents to triage patients with flu-like illnesses and COVID-19 symptoms in Silver Spring and Germantown

4. Sign Up For Health Insurance

As the coronavirus pandemic intensifies, states are reopening their health insurance exchanges for uninsured residents.

In Maryland, the one-month special enrollment period ends on Wednesday, April 15. Coverage will begin April 1 — regardless of when you picked a health plan during that time period.

To enroll, visit MarylandHealthConnection.gov or download the free "Enroll MHC" mobile app. When enrolling, choose "Coronavirus Emergency Special Enrollment Period."

This enrollment period is only for new enrollments of uninsured Marylanders.

If you need help enrolling, free consumer assistance is available by calling 855-642-8572 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Deaf and hard of hearing should use Relay. Help is provided in more than 200 languages.

Click here to learn more.

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