Skip to main content

Primary care staging

We offer five primary care clinics across the Northland. Choose one close to home.

COVID vaccine FAQ

Answers to your COVID questions below

What are the symptoms and when should I see a doctor?

People with COVID have reported a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe illness.
Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus and can include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

When should I see a doctor?

  • Mild symptoms - Call your primary care provider. Your provider will ask specific screening questions and provide your next steps.
  • Severe symptoms - call 911.

When should I seek emergency medical care?

If you are showing any of the following signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake or stay awake
  • Bluish lips or face

This list does not include all possible urgent symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. If you need emergency care, call 911. Notify the operator you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID.

Who needs testing?

Individuals should be tested for COVID-19 if they:

  • Have COVID-19 symptoms of COVID-19
  • Were in close contact with someone with COVID-19 – get tested at least five days after that contact
  • Are not current with COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Have been requested to do by their school, employer or healthcare provider

See this CDC testing flowchart for more information.

What does a test cost?

Find a testing location convenient for you here. You may order up to four tests through the U.S. government or self-collection kits from the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services.

When do I get my test results?

If you were tested through Liberty Hospital, which means a physician ordered your test, results are typically available in 48-72 hours. The provider who ordered your test will call you with results.

Do you offer rapid testing for outpatients?

At this time, Liberty Hospital does not offer rapid testing. This may change in the future.

When can I return to work?

Returning to work after COVID symptoms when no testing was done:

Persons with COVID who have symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation under the following conditions, according to the CDC (7-20-20):

  • At least 10 days have passed since the symptoms started AND
  • At least 24 hours have passed since the last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
  • Other symptoms have improved

Returning to work after a positive COVID test:

Persons with a positive COVID-19 viral test done by nasal or nasopharyngeal swab may discontinue
isolation under the following conditions, according to the CDC (7-22-20):

  • At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND
  • At least 24 hours have passed since the last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND
  • Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved

After a positive COVID test, the CDC no longer is recommending that additional tests be taken to return to work. Patients without symptoms who were tested may return to work when at least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive viral diagnostic test

Returning to work after COVID exposure:

If you have had close contact, which is defined as less than six feet away from someone for 15 minutes
or longer, with someone who has been exposed to or tested positive for COVID, do the following:

  • Stay home for 14 days from the day of exposure
  • Maintain social distance (at least six feet away) from others
  • Monitor yourself for fever twice a day and watch for other symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.)