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COVID-19 Information for Members

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has a list of COVID-19 symptoms that includes a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after being exposed to the virus.

Possible symptoms of COVID-19 can include:

Fever or chills.
Cough.
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
Fatigue.
Muscle or body aches.
Headache.
New loss of taste or smell.
Sore throat.
Congestion or runny nose.
Nausea or vomiting.
Diarrhea.

If you have any of the emergency warning signs below, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room:

Trouble breathing.
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest.
New confusion.
Inability to wake or stay awake.
Pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips or nail beds (depending on skin tone).

Please call your doctor if you have any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

For people with chronic illnesses or the elderly, the symptoms can be more severe and life threatening. People with asthma and other chronic conditions are at a higher risk of complications from COVID-19.

What should I do if I was exposed to COVID-19?

What should I do if I develop COVID-19 symptoms?

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you should:

Isolate immediately. Make sure to follow the guidelines for quarantine and isolation.
Get tested for COVID-19. Stay home until you know the result. If you test positive for COVID-19, follow the guidelines in the next section.
Contact your doctor for treatment options right away. You can get treatments for mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Do not wait to see if you get sicker.

What should I do if I test positive for COVID-19?

If you test positive for COVID-19:

Make sure to stay home for at least 5 days. Isolate yourself from other people in your home and monitor your symptoms.
Contact your doctor for treatment options right away. You can get treatments for mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Do not wait to see if you get sicker.
After isolating for 5 days, you can end your isolation if you are fever-free for 24 hours and your symptoms are improving.

If you experience any emergency warning signs, such as trouble breathing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

More information is available on the CDC’s isolation page.

What kind of care should I get for COVID-19?

Urgent care is available

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you can go to urgent care. Urgent care is for health care you need within 48 hours to prevent serious damage to your health from sudden illness, injury or a complication you already have.

Can’t see your doctor? Call the Nurse Advice Line.

If you are unable to see your doctor and you have COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for COVID-19, you can also call the Nurse Advice Line (NAL). A registered nurse will help you decide what to do next. The NAL is available 24 hours, 7 days a week. It’s fast, easy and at no cost to you. Call: 844-971-8907. TTY: Dial 711.

When to go to the emergency room

Monitor your symptoms and get immediate medical care if you have emergency warning signs (including trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or blue-colored skin, lips and/or nails).

COVID-19 treatments

COVID-19 treatments help people recover faster or protect certain people who have a weakened immune system. If you have COVID-19 symptoms and test positive, you can get medication treatment right away.

COVID-19 medications are now available through your doctor, local pharmacies and health clinics. Contact your health care provider for more information.

Don’t Delay: Test Soon and Treat Early has important Test to Treat reminders from the CDC.

Where can I get tested for COVID-19?

COVID-19 testing is available to everyone.

Please note that some sites may charge for testing or treatment. Please note that some sites may charge for testing or treatment. Visit the California Department of Public Health website to find a testing site. You can use the “Filter results” dropdown to search for locations that offer free testing and/or treatment. Click “Learn more” to check if a location offers testing, requires an appointment or charges fees.

At-home COVID-19 tests are also available.

You can purchase tests online or in pharmacies and stores. You may also be able to get a test at no cost to you through the local health department.

Learn more about at-home tests on the CDC’s Self-Testing At Home or Anywhere page.

How do I care for someone in my household with COVID-19?

When can I go out again after having COVID-19?

COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Medi-Cal Members

Who can get the COVID-19 vaccines?

Everyone 6 months and older can get the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine for yourself or for your child, talk to your doctor or visit the CDC website.

What COVID-19 vaccine should I get and when?

To learn which COVID-19 vaccine is right for you and your family, view the COVID-19 Vaccination Schedules chart. It shows which vaccine types are right for different age groups and when to get each dose. It has a routine schedule chart and a chart for those who are at moderate or severe risk.

Booster Shots

COVID-19 booster shots are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Booster shots are recommended for adults and children who are at least 5 years old.

For more information on choosing your COVID-19 booster shot and who can get a booster shot, please visit the CDC’s booster shot webpage.

The CDC gives special instructions for additional primary shots and booster shots for people who have weak immune systems, also known as immunocompromised. For more information, visit the CDC’s webpage for COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised People.

You can schedule a booster shot on the MyTurn website or call 833-422-4255. You can also call your doctor to schedule a booster shot.

Updated COVID-19 bivalent boosters

The CDC recommends updated COVID-19 bivalent boosters for those who are eligible to get a booster.

The updated boosters are called "bivalent" because they help protect you from the original coronavirus strain as well as from the newer Omicron strains.

For information on choosing your COVID-19 bivalent booster and who can get the updated booster, please visit the CDC’s booster webpage.

You can schedule a booster appointment on the Vaccines.gov website. To find a location that offers the bivalent booster, select the “Newly Authorized Bivalent” boxes under the section “Show COVID-19 Vaccines and Boosters.”

The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Information on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines is available on the CDC’s webpage.

Medi-Cal members can get the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.

The COVID-19 vaccine is one of the safest ways our communities and lives can return to a more normal state, more quickly.
The Alliance is committed to supporting you and your family’s health.

You can help protect yourself and the people around you by getting the vaccine.

Help protect your whole family by getting yourself and your children 6 months and older vaccinated against COVID-19
The COVID-19 vaccines can now be given at the same time as other vaccines.

The risk of severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age.
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is an important step to help prevent getting sick from COVID-19.

After the COVID-19 vaccination, you may have some side effects. These are normal signs that your body is building protection.
If you are fully vaccinated and boosted, you will still need to follow guidance required by federal, state, and local authorities, or at your workplace and local businesses.
Homebound members have many available resources to them if they are interested in getting the vaccine at their home on the myturn.gov website.

Here are some ways that you can find out about the COVID-19 vaccine appointments:

Sign up online on California’s COVID-19 registration website.
Call California’s hotline for COVID-19 information. A live person will help you register for vaccine appointments. To use the service:
- Call 833-422-4255.
- You will hear 7 menu options. On your phone’s keypad, press 1 for English, press 2 for Spanish or press 3 for other languages.
- The service is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you have questions about the vaccines, visit your county public health department’s website:

Guidance for Pregnant and Breastfeeding People During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Pregnant people are more at risk of getting very sick with COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant. If you are pregnant and get COVID-19, you are also more at risk of pregnancy complications like high blood pressure, bleeding disorders, death and stillbirth.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you can still get the COVID-19 vaccine. Getting the vaccine while you are pregnant can help protect you from severe illness from COVID-19.

If you have questions about getting vaccinated, talk to your doctor. You can also read the CDC guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding to learn more. (Note: This page is only available in English and Spanish.)

If you have questions about the vaccine, visit your county public health department's website or call the phone number for your county.

Protect yourself: avoid COVID-19 vaccine scams.

Never share your personal health information or your Social Security Number, credit card number or bank account information with unknown individuals.

Remember, Medi-Cal members will receive COVID-19 vaccines at no cost.

If you believe you have been a victim of a COVID-19 scam, please report it online to the Federal Trade Commission.

You can also call the hotline for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General at 800- HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

Know the Truth About COVID-19 Vaccines

Seven Facts to Know About the Vaccine

Prevent Getting Sick

What can I do to stay well?

Follow the county’s guidelines for masks.

Each county may have specific requirements for wearing a mask. Check the county COVID-19 website to see where masks are required or are strongly recommended.
Always follow all precautions when required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

You are fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine, or two weeks after receiving the single dose vaccine.

Wash your hands.
Prevent the spread of germs by washing your hands often. Use hand sanitizer when you do not have access to soap and water.
Stay home if you are sick and avoid contact with anyone who may be sick.
Seek medical attention if you are having COVID-19 symptoms.

If you or someone you live with are at high risk, extra precautions are advised. These precautions include avoiding things like hugging, kissing or sharing food or drinks.

For more information on how to limit risks when living with others, visit the CDC website.

Telehealth Services

Some providers may be able to provide some of your services through a telehealth visit. These visits offer high quality care without you needing to leave your home and are a safe way to receive medical care without going to your doctor’s office. Telehealth visits may involve having a live video or phone conversation with your provider.

Other telehealth visits may involve sharing information with your provider without a live conversation. It is important that both you and your provider agree that the use of a telehealth visit for a particular service is appropriate for you.

Can I talk to my doctor by phone? Do I need internet access or a computer?

I can not get in to see my doctor. What can I do?

COVID-19 Vaccine Videos

COVID-19 Vaccine Videos

COVID-19 Resources

Stress and Coping

The Alliance contracts with a company called Carelon Behavioral Health to help you connect with the mental health services you need. Call Carelon at 855-765-9700 to speak with someone who can help.

Resources for Children and Adolescents

CDC information for families and children.
Managing stress for parents/caregivers and children.
For more information on COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens, visit the CDC website.

Resources for Older Adults

The State of California’s Aging and Adults Info Line connects to local Area Agencies on Aging. Call 800-510-2020. For the Hearing or Speech Assistance Line, call 800-735-2929 (TTY: Dial 7-1-1).
The California Department of Aging has developed a new activity guide and weekly planner, "Feeling Good & Staying Connected".