Skip Navigation LinksTested_CA

office of communications

Testing & COVID-19 – What You Need to Know

COVID-19 can feel like a common cold, flu or seasonal allergies. If you’re experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms (which include runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, body aches and more) you should test for COVID-19. 

You can test for COVID-19 two ways:

  1. Test yourself with an at-home test. Learn more about how to get tested​. If negative, test again in 1–2 days. If still negative, take a 3rd test in 1–2 days.  
  2. Get a lab test from a health care provider. Find a testing site near you via MyTurn.ca​.gov. ​

Were you exposed to COVID-19? If you are at high risk of severe disease, even if you have no symptoms, test within 5 days of exposure. Anyone exposed to COVID-19 should test just before visiting someone who is at higher risk for severe illness (including adults 50+ or those with weakened immunity).   


Is your COVID-19 test positive? Prescription medications to treat COVID-19 are widely available and effective for stopping COVID-19 illness from getting serious. Do not wait until you feel worse treatments work better if started right away, and must be taken within 5-7 days after you first develop symptoms. Contact your health care provider, urgent care center, or the CDPH Call Center at 833-422-4255, or  visit covid19.ca.gov/treatment​.


More information about getting treatment, caring for yourself, and preventing spread to others is available at What to Do If You Test Positive for COVID-19.


C​DPH Material Co-brand Disclaimer 
Local health jurisdictions (LHJs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) may co-brand materials created by CDPH (those in CDPH Office of Communications Toolkits) by adding their agency logo next to or near the CDPH logo. Be sure there is ample space between the two logos. Materials may not be altered or edited in any other way, including removal or adjustment of the CDPH logo.​​​

Fact Sheet

Flyer thumbnail

8.5x11​ - Have Medi-Cal? Medi-Cal Participants Are Eligible for FREE COVID-19 Tests (PDF)

EnglishSpanish, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese.​​

Social Media Messaging

To use these images, click on each one to enlarge the image, then right click and “save as.”

English

​​Test for COVID-19 if you have any symptoms Suggested Messaging:  

COVID-19 symptoms can feel like a common cold, seasonal allergies or the flu. Take an at-home test now if you have symptoms. If negative, test again in 1–2 days. If still negative, take a 3rd test in 1–2 days (or take a lab test). 

Learn more about testing: http://cdph.ca.gov/testing

Have COVID-19 symptoms? Use at-home rapid test to quickly check if you have COVID-19/
Suggested Messaging:  

Were you exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19? If you are at high risk of severe disease, test within 5 days after exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms.  

For more information: http://cdph.ca.gov/testing. ​



Exposed to COVID-19? Test if you’re higher risk
Suggested Messaging:  

Were you exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19? If you are at high risk of severe disease, test within 5 days after exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms.  

Learn more about COVID-19 testing:  http://cdph.ca.gov/testing. ​


Exposed to COVID-19? Test before vititing those at higher risk.

​Suggested Messaging:

Were you exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19? Even if ​​you  don’t have symptoms, test just before visiting anyone who is at higher risk for severe illness (including adults 50+ or those with weakened immunity).

For ​more information: http://cdph.ca.gov/testing. ​


Spanish

​​Test for COVID-19 if you have any symptoms Suggested Messaging:  

Los síntomas de COVID-19 pueden parecerse a los de un resfriado común, alergias estacionales o gripe. Hazte una prueba casera si tienes síntomas. Si das negativo, vuelve a hacerte la prueba en 1–2 días. Si sigues dando negativo, hazte una 3ª prueba en 1–2 días (o hazte una prueba de laboratorio). 
Para obtener más información: 

 http://cdph.ca.gov/testing

​​Have COVID-19 symptoms? Use at-home rapid test to quickly check if you have COVID-19/ Suggested Messaging:  

¿Tienes síntomas de COVID-19? Una prueba casera de COVID-19 puede darte resultados rápidos. Si das negativo, hazte la prueba otra vez en 1-2 días. Si sigues dando negativo, hazte una 3ª prueba en 1-2 días (o hazte una prueba de laboratorio). 

Para obtener más información:

 http://cdph.ca.gov/testing

Exposed to COVID-19? Test if you’re higher risk
Suggested Messaging:  

¿Estuviste expuesto a alguien que dio positivo por COVID-19? Si tienes alto riesgo de enfermarte gravemente, hazte la prueba dentro de los 5 días después de estar expuesto, incluso si no tienes síntomas.
Para obtener más información: ​

 http://cdph.ca.gov/testing. ​


Exposed to COVID-19? Test before vititing those at higher risk.

​Suggested Messaging:

¿Estuviste expuesto a alguien que dio positivo por COVID-19? Incluso si no tienes síntomas, hazte la prueba justo antes de visitar a cualquier persona que tenga un mayor riesgo de enfermarse gravemente (incluyendo adultos de 50+ o aquellos con inmunidad debilitada).
Para obtener más información: ​

 http://cdph.ca.gov/testing. ​​​​​​​​​

Page Last Updated :