Does wearing face masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Wearing masks can help communities slow the spread of COVID-19 when worn consistently and correctly by a majority of people in public settings and when masks are used along with other preventive measures, including social distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting.

When should I be tested for COVID-19 in Texas?

See full answerIf you are not fully vaccinated, you should get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or you have had close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19. Get tested if you have taken part in activities that put you in high risk for COVID-19 because you could not socially distance. Also, get tested if your medical provider or if your local or state health department refers you for testing. After testing, self-quarantine at home until you get your test results. Follow the advice of your healthcare provider or public health professional.CDC recently updated its guidance for fully vaccinated people, including when they should get tested. If you are fully vaccinated, you should get tested if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. You should also get tested 3–5 days following a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days after exposure or until a negative test result.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19 if someone feels sick?

The most common symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms reported with COVID-19 include chills, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, abdominal pain/discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Symptoms appear 2–14 days after exposure.

Can a person test negative and later test positive for the coronavirus disease?

Test results reflect the state of illness at the time when you are tested. Someone can test negative one day, then get exposed, and test positive on a later day. If a person is in the early stages of infection, it is possible the test will not detect the virus and come back negative.