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COVID-19

Questions surrounding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) focus on ascertaining an individual's risk of being infected, present infection status, past infection, and sequalae of past infection.

Have you within the past 48 hours experienced any of the following symptoms?#

  • New loss of taste or smell
  • New rash on fingers and toes
  • New difficulty breathing
  • Sore throat (upper respiratory infection, such as pharyngitis)
  • New cough (lower respiratory infection)
  • Unusual fatigue
  • Fever above 100.0 F, or feeling feverish (chills, body aches) – influenza-like symptoms
  • Vomiting or diarrhea (gastroenteritis)
  • Loss of appetite

An affirmative answer to any of these questions should raise suspicion that the person is infected with SARS-CoV-2 and should result in a request for a COVID-19 test. The local prevalence of COVID-19 should be considered when assessing the likelihood that specific signs and symptoms are COVID-19 related. During a pandemic, COVID-19 cannot be ruled out based solely on signs and symptoms.

In the last week, have you been in contact with someone who has a new fever, new cough, new shortness of breath, or been newly diagnosed with COVID-19?#

A person can be asymptomatic (infected with no signs or symptoms) or pre-symptomatic (infected with no signs or symptoms but will eventually develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19). Although no signs or symptoms may not be present, both asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic individuals should be considered infectious.

Have you ever been diagnosed with COVID-19?#

  • If diagnosed, were you hospitalized?
  • If hospitalized, for how long were you hospitalized and were you treated in an intensive care unit (ICU)?
  • Since your diagnosis with COVID-19, have you had a negative COVID-19 test?

Depending on the severity of a past infection, the patient may be taking medications to prevent COVID-19 associated complications, such as using anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE).

If you were previously diagnosed and treated for COVID-19, are you still experiencing any of the following:#

  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath at rest
  • Chest pain
  • Heart failure
  • Venous thromboembolism
  • Seizures
  • Muscle weakness
  • Postural orthostatic tachycardia
  • Neuropathic pain and headache
  • Chronic pain
  • Cognitive changes
  • Psychiatric illness
  • Kidney impairment
  • Hepatic impairment

After having recovered from the acute stage of COVID-19 some individuals may experience prolonged, and sometimes severe, residual health consequences (see above) known as “long COVID,” “post-acute COVID-19 syndrome”, “post-COVID syndrome”, “persistent post-COVID syndrome (PPCS) ,“ “chronic COVID syndrome.” Affected individuals are often referred to as “COVID long haulers.”

Have you been tested for COVID-19 in the past 10 days?#

  • When was the test performed?
  • What type of test was performed (RT-PCR, antigen)
  • What was the result of the test?
  • What was the reason for being tested?

These questions would add to information regarding an individual’s COVID-19 status.

Have you received a COVID-19 vaccine?#

  • Which vaccine?
  • How many doses?
  • When did you receive your last dose?
  • Have you been tested for the presence of antibodies?

A COVID-19 vaccine is considered effective in mitigating severe illness and hospitalization 2 weeks after the last dose. An antibody test can reveal past infection, as well as response to a vaccine.

Related Pages#

References/Websites#