General FAQ

For updates of cases and hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 as well as outbreak information, check the VDH Website. To find your COVID-19 Community Level, visit the CDC website.

Read the CDC: COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review for a national summary.

VDH continues to collect and monitor the data on COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

VDH continues to work with our laboratory partners at the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services. Genomic surveillance of positive samples to identify how the variants and sub-variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be genetically different, helps us monitor for specific variants and to detect other genetic changes in the virus that are present in positive cases in Virginia.

VDH epidemiologists might identify situations of concern, for example, COVID-19 infection in people who had recent international travel to an area where new variants are coming up, outbreaks that seem to spread very quickly, or cases of illness that are more severe than expected. In these situations, whole genome sequencing of samples can be requested to help our public health investigation and response efforts.

The VDH wastewater surveillance program can provide an early signal for a rise in COVID-19 cases, including cases with and without symptoms, and positive samples can also be tested for variants. Wastewater surveillance can also provide data on the prevalence (proportion of the population that have an infection) of the virus in the community when patient testing data is limited.

We are closely watching the effect of variants on several dynamics of the pandemic including the effect on how easily they spread, disease severity, on immunity after vaccination or natural infection, on the ability of tests to detect the virus, on the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody treatments, and on vaccine effectiveness.

CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels can help counties, other communities, and individuals make decisions based on the level of COVID-19 transmission in their specific county, and their unique needs. 

Use the VDH Geography Locator Tool to help you identify your health district and health region.

VDH moved from trying to investigate every case of COVID-19 and trace all contacts to focusing on follow-up of outbreaks and cases in high risk settings. Public health staff will prioritize responding to COVID-19 clusters and outbreaks in long-term care facilities and other congregate settings, healthcare settings, and other high-risk settings, and will focus on follow-up with individuals most at risk for negative health effects from COVID-19. More information on contact tracing is available on the VDH website.

COVIDWISE is the official Virginia Exposure Notification System (ENS) app. This free smartphone app is available to all Virginians on Google Play and in the App Store. Your phone can be used to notify you quickly if you’ve been exposed. Using the app is voluntary and your privacy is protected. Location is never used and the app has a feature that can take symptom onset date into consideration.

Information on COVIDWISE can be found on VDH’s COVIDWISE webpage

FAQs regarding COVIDWISE can be found on VDH's COVIDWISE FAQ page.

For more information on what to do following a potential exposure, please visit VDH's Exposed to COVID-19 website.

Regardless of community transmission levels, VDH encourages everyone to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, including the recent bivalent boosters, and to increase ventilation in indoor spaces.  

 Mask guidance:  

Situations where you should always wear a mask: 

• If you have symptoms of COVID-19. 
• Until 10 days after a positive COVID-19 test and are around other people. Visit CDC’s website to see how you might be able to stop wearing a mask earlier.  

 Situations where you may choose to wear a mask: 

• After an exposure to someone with COVID-19, and are around others. 

 Masking based on COVID-19 Community Level:  

Knowing the COVID-19 Community Level in your area will help you know what additional prevention measures to take when you are in the community. 

Low Community Level:  

• Wear a mask based on your personal preference and your level of risk of developing severe illness. 

  Medium Community Level:  

• If you have a weakened immune system or at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about additional precautions, such as wearing masks or respirators indoors in public.  
• If you live with or have social contact with someone at high risk for severe illness , consider testing yourself for infection  before you get together and wearing a mask when indoors with them 

 High Community Level:  

• CDC recommends that you wear a mask or respirator that provides you and others with greater protection, like an N95 or KN95, when indoors in public. 

 Testing guidance:  

• At all COVID-19 Community Levels, get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms. 
• After an exposure: 

• If you choose to, get tested on Day 6 (5 full days after exposure).  

• If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see specific testing recommendations. 

• For questions about travel, high-risk activities, and other testing guidance, access CDC’s testing page. 

VDH has specific guidance for COVID-19 prevention for students, teachers and staff in child care, K-12 schools, and day camp settings.  

You can visit COVID.gov for information on COVID-19 vaccines, tests, treatments, and masks, as well as getting the latest updates on COVID-19 in your area. 

High-quality non-surgical N95 masks are being made available to all Americans for free. Masks are available at community health centers across the U.S. Up to three masks will be available to each person for free.

You can visit CDC’s Find Free Masks (N95 Respirators) webpage where you can enter your zip code to find free respirators at participating locations.

You can also visit Vaccines.gov to find pharmacies near you that are distributing free masks.

In most situations, cleaning alone with a household cleaner that contains soap or detergent removes most virus particles on surfaces. You should clean AND disinfect to reduce transmission of COVID-19 when someone in your home is sick or if someone who is positive for COVID-19 has been in your home within the last 24 hours. Please see CDC’s guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your home.

Portable air cleaners (also known as air sanitizers or purifiers) can help get clean air delivered by using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. A HEPA filter is a type of mechanical air filter that can likely remove at least 99.7% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and small airborne particles.

When used properly, portable air cleaners and HEPA filters can help reduce numbers of viruses and other airborne contaminants. Portable HEPA filters may be especially helpful when you cannot let in outdoor air without compromising indoor comfort (temperature or humidity), or when outdoor air pollution is high. Portable air cleaners and HEPA filters can be used along with other best practices recommended by CDC and VDH, as part of a plan to protect households. But by itself, portable air cleaning or HEPA filtration is not enough to protect people from exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. It is important to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and use other prevention measures.

The VDH fact sheet has information on how to improve ventilation, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread indoors.

You can view the CDC Interactive Ventilation Tool to see how particle levels change indoors, as you adjust ventilation settings.

Additional household precautions and other best practices recommended are available:

Caring for Someone with COVID-19

CDC Caring for Someone Sick

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides information about Air Cleaners, HVAC Filters, and Coronavirus (COVID-19) and also provides a Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home

SARS-CoV-2 viral particles spread between people more easily indoors than outdoors. Ask experienced heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals when considering changes to HVAC systems and equipment.

Ways to improve ventilation indoors are available on the CDC website.

More detailed information about improving ventilation can be found on CDC’s Ventilation in Buildings page. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also issued guidance in March 2022 (Clean Air in Buildings Challenge: Guidance to Help Building Owners and Operators Improve Indoor Air Quality and Protect Public Health).

The VDH fact sheet has information on how to improve ventilation, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread indoors.

You can also view the CDC Interactive Ventilation Tool where you can create different scenarios by selecting options, to see how particle levels change indoors, as you adjust ventilation settings.

Certain factors can increase or decrease your risk of being exposed to COVID-19. These include:

• Length of time: how long were you around the infected person?
• Coughing or heavy breathing: was the infected person coughing, singing, shouting, or breathing heavily?
• Symptoms: Did the infected person have symptoms at the time?
• Masks: Were you or the infected person or both wearing a respirator (for example, N95) or high-quality mask?
• Ventilation and filtration: How well-ventilated was the space where you were exposed?
• Distance: How close was the infected person to you?

For more information visit VDH’s what to do if you've been exposed to COVID-19. CDC has a fact sheet with Recommendations for COVID-19 Close Contacts.

Wearing a mask for 10 days after exposure may help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 to others.

• Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19.
• Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.

If you have been exposed, and if you choose to, get tested on Day 6.

• If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see specific testing recommendations.

Continue wearing a mask when around others inside your home or indoors in public until day 10.

For more information on what you should do if you have been exposed to COVID-19, visit the VDH Exposure to COVID-19 Website.

People with COVID-19 might not have any symptoms. If they do have symptoms, these can range from mild to severe.

Symptoms can include:

This list does not include all possible symptoms of COVID-19. See the list of symptoms on the CDC website.

Because COVID-19 symptoms can look different in different people, it is important to get tested and/or speak to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about your symptoms. You can use the Coronavirus Self-Checker to help you decide when to seek testing or medical care.

VDH created a chart comparing the symptoms of seasonal allergies, the common cold, strep throat, flu, and COVID-19.

If you have concerning symptoms, you should stay home and contact your healthcare provider for evaluation, treatment, and possible testing.

If you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19, you should self-isolate (stay home and away from others) This applies when you have a positive COVID-19 test – even if you have been vaccinated and even if you do not have symptoms. It also applies to when you have symptoms and are waiting on a test result or are unable to get tested. 

Stay home for at least 5 days (Days 0–5) 

• If you have symptoms, count the day that your first symptom appeared as Day 0  
• If you do not have symptoms, count the day that you got tested as Day 0  

 During isolation at home: 

• Monitor your health and contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms worsen  
• Separate yourself from other people and pets as much as possible  
• Wear a high-quality mask if you cannot separate from others  
• Stay in a separate “sick room” and use a separate bathroom, if possible  

• Do not go to public settings or travel  
• Take steps to improve air ventilation at home, if possible 

 If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you can end isolation (leave your home) after Day 5 if these things have happened: 

•  At least 5 full days have passed since symptoms first appeared, and  

• You are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, and  
• Your other symptoms have improved  

• Note that loss of taste and smell might persist for weeks or months and this should not delay the end of isolation.   

 If you did not have COVID-19 symptoms, you can end isolation (leave your home) after Day 5 if  at least 5 full days have passed since you were tested 

If you did not have COVID-19 symptoms, you can end isolation (leave your home) after Day 5 if  at least 5 full days have passed since you were testedtested 

If you end isolation after Day 5, you should still follow these steps on Days 6–10:  

•  Wear a high-quality mask around others at home and in public. Visit CDC’s website to see how you might be able to stop wearing a mask earlier. 
•  Do not travel, avoid people who have weakened immune systems or who are at high risk for severe COVID-19, avoid places where you are unable to wear a mask, and avoid other people when you are eating. 

This is based on CDC guidance for Isolation. This VDH guidance applies to general community settings, including K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and workplaces. Child care facilities may apply this guidance for children ages 2 years and older and staff who can consistently and correctly wear well-fitting masks. It does not apply to healthcare facilities or high-risk congregate settings (e.g., correctional and detention facilities, homeless shelters, or cruise ships). People with severe COVID-19 or weakened immune systems might need to isolate (stay home) longer than 10 days. They should talk with their healthcare provider about when it is safe to be around others. 

These groups, or people that fit into more than one of these groups, are at higher risk for developing severe illness:

• Older people 
• People living in a nursing home or long-term care facility 
• People with weakened immune systems 
• People of any age with certain medical conditions and disabilities
• People from racial and ethnic minority groups 

For more information about who is at risk for serious illness, visit CDC's Factors That Affect Your Risk of Getting Very Sick From COVID-19.

Check out the following website(s):

VDH What to do if you have confirmed or suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19)?

VDH When Is It Safe to be Around Others: Isolation and When to End Isolation

CDC COVID-19 Symptoms Website

CDC also provides easy to read materials:

Things to Know about COVID-19

10 Things to Know When You Have COVID-19

Staying Away from People When You Have COVID-19

Long COVID is also known as post-COVID conditions. Long COVID is a range of symptoms that can last for weeks or months after first being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Less often, Long COVID symptoms can also appear for the first time weeks after initial infection. Long COVID can happen to anyone who has had COVID-19, even if their illness was mild, or even if they had no symptoms when they were first infected. People with long COVID report experiencing different combinations of the following symptoms: 

• Tiredness or fatigue
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
• Headache
• Loss of smell or taste
• Dizziness on standing
• Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Cough
• Joint or muscle pain
• Depression or anxiety
• Fever

Some of these symptoms can get worse after physical or mental activities.

More information on long-term effects of COVID-19 illness can be found on CDC’s Post-COVID Conditions website. The National Institutes of Health also provides information on Long COVID.

The World Health Organization (WHO) developed a clinical case definition of post COVID-19 condition in October 2021, stating that the condition is “usually 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 with symptoms and that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis.”

First, avoiding a COVID-19 exposure or infection in the first place is 100% effective in preventing Long COVID.

In addition, people who are up to date with COVID-19 vaccination are less likely to get COVID-19 so are therefore less likely to get Long COVID.

Also, even people who get Long COVID after being vaccinated are still partly (30-50%) protected from Long COVID even if they get a breakthrough infection.

Finally, information from new data still being studied seems to indicate that being treated with Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir) in the first 5 days after COVID-19 symptoms begin can also provide some Long COVID prevention benefit.

At the moment, although many possible Long COVID treatments are being studied, so far, no specific drug, vaccine, or other treatment for Long COVID has been found to be effective. A major NIH-sponsored study of Paxlovid as a treatment for Long COVID is now underway but results are not expected until early 2024.

However, as noted by CDC, “people experiencing post-COVID conditions can seek care from a healthcare provider to come up with a personal medical management plan that can help improve their symptoms and quality of life”. Additional information can be found on CDC’s Post-COVID Conditions website.

Most post-COVID conditions can be diagnosed and managed by primary care providers. If needed, specialty care providers and support services (e.g., occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work) can work with people with this condition to help them rehabilitate and regain their strength and abilities. Healthcare professionals may also consider referral to post-COVID care centers for additional care.

There are a number of post-COVID care centers (PCCC) in Virginia and surrounding states. The following list may not include all centers. VDH does not recommend or endorse specific clinics.

INOVA Post COVID-19 Recovery and Rehabilitation (Northern Virginia)

UVA COVID and Special Pathogens clinic; by appointment only; requires referral from a healthcare provider (Charlottesville, VA)

Sheltering Arms Post-COVID-19 (coronavirus) rehabilitation (Mechanicsville, VA)

Centra Health Post-COVID Recovery Care Program (Lynchburg, VA)

Sentara Heart Hospital Post-COVID Clinic (Norfolk, VA)

For more locations and additional contact information, visit the Survivor Corps website (www.survivorcorps.com).

Yes. However, being up to date with COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of getting Long COVID.

The extent of protection from Long COVID with vaccination is uncertain. Among people who do get COVID-19 disease, recent information from a large British study suggests that, compared to vaccinated people who get breakthrough COVID-19 infections, about twice as many unvaccinated people who get COVID-19 have symptoms lasting more than 28 days. Another large study suggests that vaccines offer less protection against long term symptoms than previously expected. This is an evolving area of research. Additional studies will be needed to clarify the ultimate burden of “Long COVID” in vaccine breakthrough cases. 

Yes. According to a large review, 1 in 4 children  with COVID-19 symptoms develop "Long COVID”. The most common reported symptoms were mood symptoms, fatigue, and sleep disorders. 

Most post-COVID conditions can be diagnosed and managed by primary care providers. If needed, specialty care providers and support services (e.g., occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work) can work with people with this condition to help them rehabilitate and regain their strength and abilities. Healthcare professionals may also consider referral to post-COVID care centers for additional care. 

There are a number of post-COVID care centers (PCCC) in Virginia. The following list may not include all centers. VDH does not recommend or endorse specific clinics.

INOVA Post COVID-19 Recovery and Rehabilitation (Northern Virginia)

UVA Post COVID clinic (Charlottesville, VA)

Sheltering Arms Post-COVID-19 (coronavirus) rehabilitation (Mechanicsville, VA)

Centra Health Post-COVID Recovery Care Program (Lynchburg, VA)

Sentara Heart Hospital Post-COVID Clinic (Norfolk, VA)

The VCU Health Long COVID-19 Clinic (Richmond, VA)

Virginia schools and child care facilities should select appropriate, layered prevention strategies to decrease the transmission of COVID-19. School officials, together with public health officials, need to consider multiple factors when making decisions about layered prevention strategies.

Please refer to VDH Interim Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention for Students, Teachers and Staff in Child Care, K-12 Schools, and Day Camp Settings or visit the VDH K-12 Education and Child Care Guidance Webpage for more information.

Reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by cleaning and disinfection is an important part of school operations. The CDC has developed guidance for cleaning and disinfecting schools and an infographic on cleaning your facility when someone has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Ventilation is one component of maintaining healthy environments, and is an important COVID-19 prevention strategy for schools and childcare programs. Ventilation systems clean and disperse air, decreasing the likelihood that students will inhale particles suspended in the air that are contaminated with the virus that causes COVID-19. Please refer to CDC’s information on Ventilation in Schools and Child Care Programs,   VDH Ventilation Best Practices, and EPA’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge: Guidance to Help Building Owners and Operators Improve Indoor Air Quality and Protect Public Health.

Schools are subject to Board of Health disease reporting regulations. Any person in charge of a school, summer camp, or child care center is required to report suspected outbreaks of any illness that might be spread from one person to another. Schools should refer to the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Health for requirements. If a known or suspected outbreak of COVID-19 occurs, the facility should call the local health department immediately to discuss the situation. The local health department will work with the facility to provide disease control and prevention recommendations to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19.  Schools may also use the VDH outbreak reporting tool to report suspected outbreaks of COVID-19 or other communicable diseases.

No, currently, the COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory. However, the vaccine is one of the critical tools needed to reduce the spread of this virus. Having teachers, school staff, and students be up to date with vaccination, including boosters when eligible, is a critical layer of prevention and protection to help schools safely operate. We encourage you to have a conversation with your child’s healthcare provider.

Schools and families should be aware that participating in team sports or other extracurricular activities, especially indoor activities involving shouting or singing, increase the risk of SARS-CoV2 transmission. Additional guidance and consideration can be found in the American Academy of Pediatrics Sports and Physical Activities Guidance.. 

The Virginia High School League governs athletic competitions; local school divisions may also have their own policies in place.

For more information, please see VDH Interim Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention for Students, Teachers and Staff in Child Care, K-12 Schools, and Day Camp Settings. 

Students or staff who come to school with symptoms or develop symptoms while at school should be asked to wear a well-fitting mask while in the building and be sent home and pursue medical evaluation and/or testing as appropriate. Some schools may have testing resources available at school. Symptomatic people should be separated from others as much as possible; children should be supervised by a designated caregiver who is wearing a well-fitting mask or respirator until they leave school grounds. 

People with certain medical conditions are more likely to get very sick with COVID-19. These individuals and/or their parents should discuss school attendance with their healthcare provider. Parents should provide the school with healthcare provider documentation (HCP) of the child’s healthcare needs and treatment protocols. This includes HCP authorization and parental consent to administer medication or administer treatments to students. The CDC offers guidance for families of children needing extra precautions during COVID-19. Families are encouraged to meet with school staff, including teachers, school nurses and administrators, to discuss safety measures and establish/update a Section 504 plan. Please discuss any concern you may have with your local school division.

Schools may consider providing remote learning exceptions and teleworking options for students and staff who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are at high risk of severe illness (as defined by the CDC). Please discuss any concern you may have with your health care provider and local school division.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, asthma treatments using inhalers with spacers (with or without a face mask, according to each student’s individualized treatment plan) are strongly preferred over nebulizer treatments whenever possible in the school setting. 

The CDC provides guidance for healthcare settings on what procedures are considered aerosol generating. The use of metered dose-inhalers (MDIs), with or without spacers or face masks, is not considered an aerosol-generating procedure. At this time, CDC considers open suctioning of airways and nebulizer administration to be aerosol generating. However, it is uncertain whether aerosols generated from nebulizer treatments are infectious.  

Use of nebulizers in school should be reserved for  instances where children cannot use inhalers, do not have access to an inhaler, or for children who are in significant respiratory distress while awaiting emergency transport. 

Because they are considered aerosol-generating procedures, suctioning and nebulizer treatments should be performed in a space that limits exposure to others and with minimal staff present, limited to the student and staff member performing the treatment. The staff member should use proper personal protective equipment (N95 respirator, goggles or face shield, gloves and gown). Rooms should be well ventilated or the treatment should be performed outside. After the student receives treatment, the room should undergo routine cleaning and disinfection. Routine cleaning and disinfecting of the room is adequate and the room does not need to be vacated for any period of  time. A list of EPA-approved disinfectants can be found: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2