Sonoma County Office of Education

Important Update on Screening for COVID-19

01/04/2021 -

Only five percent of those infected with COVID are presenting with fever, making screening questions more important than ever. These are among the first symptoms being reported by those in the early stages of COVID:

  • Headache
  • Sinus pressure/discomfort
  • Runny nose
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Cramps, tummy/abdominal
  • Diarrhea
  • Feeling off, like something isn't quite right but you can't put your finger on it

The following symptoms are still being reported as well:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Achiness, muscle or body
  • Vomiting
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Loss of smell
  • Loss of taste
  • Fatigue, either extreme or vague
  • Weakness

If you have any of these symptoms, please call your doctor to be cleared for work and call in to your supervisor prior to returning.

Also, because testing on Day 1 (considered onset of symptoms or the date of known or suspected exposure) can result in false negative tests, Sonoma County Public Health is advising a second test on Day 8 (the eighth day after onset of symptoms or date of known/suspected exposure) as they have found the results of Day 8 tests to be highly reliable.