COVID-19 Specialist

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It can cause symptoms that are mild, moderate, or severe and life-threatening in some cases. To find out if you have COVID-19, K & M Care offers COVID-19 testing.

If you’d like to reduce the risk of getting COVID-19 or decrease your chance of developing serious symptoms, K & M Care providers offer COVID-19 vaccinations.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Common signs and symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Loss of taste
• Loss of smell
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• Muscle aches
• Headaches
• Body aches
• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

Your symptoms might develop 2-14 days after exposure to someone infected with COVID-19. Complications that can occur in some people are chest tightness and severe difficulty breathing.

What should I expect during COVID-19 testing?

During COVID-19 testing, you relax on a comfortable chair or exam table. Your provider inserts a cotton swab into your nasal cavity to get a sample of secretions. They test the sample for the presence of the COVID-19 virus. You could receive your results soon after testing, later on the same day, or within a day or two.

If you’d like to know if you have COVID-19 antibodies, which means you’ve had and recovered from COVID-19 in the past or you’ve developed antibodies because of a COVID-19 vaccine, K & M Care can use a simple blood test to find out.

What happens when getting a COVID-19 vaccination?

When getting a COVID-19 vaccination, you rest on a chair or exam table. Your provider injects mRNA substances into your arm using a very fine needle. Though you may feel a tiny pinch during the procedure, it lasts just a second or two. Afterward, you can expect redness or swelling at the injection site. Common side effects are similar to mild flu-like symptoms. 

What should I do if I get COVID-19?

If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home, get plenty of rest, and drink a lot of fluids. If your symptoms become severe and you can’t breathe well, see your K & M Care specialist, head to the nearest emergency room, or call 911. COVID-19 treatments help reduce your symptoms and the risk of more serious complications. 

Ask your K & M Care provider when it’s okay to return to school or work after contracting COVID-19. If you’re still contagious, avoid close contact with other people.

To schedule COVID-19 testing or vaccinations at K & M Care, call the office, or book an appointment online today.