Symptoms
What you need to know
If you have new symptoms, even mild ones, that could be COVID-19 please contact your health care provider or your local Public Health Center.
Symptoms of COVID-19 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
- Increased sputum (phlegm) production
Although most people with COVID-19 will start out with only one or two of these symptoms — and the symptoms will generally be very mild — people tend to be the most contagious during the first several days after symptom onset.
Your health care provider will determine if you should be referred for testing and can help you locate a testing site in your community. This Testing Sites Locator can also help you find a testing location.
Public health nurses can issue a referral for testing and help Alaskans find a way to get tested.
What to keep in mind
People tend to be most contagious during the first several days after symptom onset, even if their symptoms are very mild.
If you start experiencing ANY symptoms of an acute respiratory infection/COVID-19, stay home and isolated from others, practice social distancing and wear a cloth face covering if you must leave your house to seek medical treatment.
Contact your health care provider or Public Health Center before going in to see them. You may be diagnosed telephonically.
A test is neither a treatment nor a cure, but a tool to protect your health and the health of others.
