COVID-19 Information for the Community

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 21, 2020, with all 50 states and U.S. territories now reporting cases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with COVID-19 have a variety of symptoms ranging from mild reactions to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. People with the following symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

• Fever
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

If you have any of these emergency warning signs* get medical attention immediately:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

* This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Some of the things we're doing to keep patients and team members safe include:

• Conducting point of entry symptom and temperature screenings for staff and patients
• Revised visiting policy to restrict visitors
• For visitors who are permitted in select circumstances, they also undergo point of entry screening and are required to wear masks
• Rearranged waiting areas to create appropriate social distance
• All team members wear a mask for every patient interaction, and participate in daily symptom and temperature checks

Inova’s care for patients with COVID-19 is based on recommendations from experts in leading public health organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your experience in our hospital today may be different than a previous one. For example, your food will be delivered on a disposable tray and we may measure how much liquid you drink. We’d like to tell you a bit more about your stay. Read more in the attachment below.

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• Infection prevention for any illness begins with good personal hygiene practices including hand washing (20 seconds with soap and water), disinfecting work and food preparation surfaces, minimizing touching your face and avoiding close proximity with anyone who is ill or exhibiting symptoms.
• Stay home as much as possible. Avoid crowded public places.
• If you must go out, wear a cloth face-covering or mask and keep a 6-foot distance between yourself and others to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
• Remember, even people with no symptoms can carry COVID-19 and transmit it to other people.
• Acknowledge people verbally instead of shaking hands or hugging.
• Use gloves or a tissue when opening doors, pressing elevator buttons, etc. and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer immediately afterwards.

Watch the video: How to make a simple face covering at home

• Individuals who are sick with respiratory symptoms should stay home. If you must leave home for any reason, including to receive medical care, wear a cloth face-covering or mask and always cover coughs and sneezes. Wash your hands often to keep from spreading illness to others. A cloth face-covering or mask will help prevent an ill person from spreading the virus and even if you do not have symptoms, you could be infected and spreading the virus without knowing it.
• Create an emergency plan of action. Develop a household plan to ensure preparedness based on your daily needs and routine, including food and supplies, care arrangements for children, elders and pets, and ensure that you have enough critical prescription medications.

When in public, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of cloth face-coverings or masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19. If you do not have a facemask you can easily make one from a piece of cloth and two rubber bands (see video).

The CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential travel, both within the United States and to other countries.

COVID-19 has been reported in all 50 states, and some areas are experiencing community spread of the disease. Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. For more travel guidelines, check the CDC website.

Do not travel if you are sick, or travel with someone who is sick.

The CDC recommends you stay home as much as possible, and practice social distancing at all times, especially if you are at higher risk of severe illness.

If you need to go out to meet your basic household needs (such as banking, or buying groceries and medicine), follow these tips:

• Stay home if sick.
• Order online and/or use curbside pickup.
• Protect yourself in public. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face-covering or mask.
• If you can, shop early in the day or later at night, when stores may be less crowded.
• Disinfect your shopping cart with disinfecting wipes if available.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• If you must use money, handle a card or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying.
• Wash and/or sanitize your hands after leaving the store.

The Inova Urgent Care Centers at North Arlington and Tysons currently function as Respiratory Illness Clinics to evaluate all patients with respiratory illness symptoms (including COVID-19 or flu).

Inova is also offering COVID-19 testing via physician ordered vehicle-side appointments in Ashburn, Falls Church, and Alexandria. Vehicle-side appointments are only for those individuals who have already been screened by their primary care physician, meet criteria and have a written physician order for the COVID-19 test.

Patients who do not have a written order are directed to a Respiratory Illness Clinic.

COVID-19 and Flu Testing Options

If it is not an emergency please seek advice from your regular healthcare provider to determine if medical evaluation is needed.

If you do not have a regular healthcare provider, visit one of Inova’s Respiratory Illness Clinics or call 855-464-3627 to schedule an in-person or virtual visit with a primary care physician.

As always, if you develop symptoms of a respiratory infection, you should:

• Be aware of ways to manage respiratory symptoms
• Seek advice from your regular healthcare provider to determine if a medical evaluation is needed.
• Contact a local urgent care center or emergency department if you feel it is an emergency and you cannot wait. Ask for instructions regarding accessing the care site.
• Inform the operator of your COVID-19 concern if you call 911.
• Practice “social distancing” by avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet) from others when possible.
• Put on a cloth face-covering or mask or cloth face covering before leaving your home. If you do not have one, you can easily make one from a piece of cloth and two rubber bands. (Watch video)

Please call your doctor for their procedures on testing for COVID-19. Doctors can refer their screened patients to a Vehicle Side Testing location to receive their test.

Inova offers COVID-19 testing for patients who have a provider order. If you think you need to be tested for COVID-19, contact your primary care provider or visit an Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic. If you have an order, you can schedule your test in MyChart or book an appointment online at one of our three vehicle-side testing locations. For those seeking COVID-19 testing without a provider order, please visit the Virginia Department of Health COVID-19 Testing Site for a list of other COVID-19 test sites. Inova is continuously reviewing testing criteria and guidance provided by the CDC and Virginia Department of Health in order to best serve our community.

Inova COVID-19 Testing Options

Yes. All members of Northern Virginia’s culturally diverse communities are welcome at the Inova Cares Clinics for Families (ICCF) located in Alexandria (4700 King St.), Annandale (7617 Little River Tpk.), Manassas (8051 Sudley Rd.), and Sterling (46440 Benedict Dr.).

Inova Cares Clinics provide primary care services for patients who qualify for Medicaid, FAMIS or Inova’s Financial Assistance Program, and the uninsured. Inova assists patients who qualify for Medicaid with the enrollment application process. Financial assistance/charity care options will be explored for patients who do not qualify for Medicaid.

COVID-19 Services for Medicaid / Uninsured Patients

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Download PDF: Frequently Asked Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccine

Since December 2019 when the first case of COVID-19 was announced in Wuhan, China, SARS-CoV-2 virus, has spread around the world. To date, in the United States, there have been a reported over 25 million cases and more than 400,000 deaths (with numbers still rising). To put this in context, the case fatality rate (number of people who have a disease and then die due to the disease) is 3.1% for COVID-19 while it is only 0.1% for the flu.

Granted, many more people survive than die from COVID-19 infection, but there are other health conditions that can develop as part of COVID-19 infection or subsequent to COVID-19 infection including heart, lung, brain and nerve problems, kidney injury, and whole body inflammation syndromes which occur in both adults and children. There are also longer term problems that we are just beginning to unravel including persistent symptoms after COVID-19.

While there are still many unknowns about COVID-19, we have learned a lot in the year since the pandemic began and have developed new treatments and now vaccines to fight back against COVID-19.

In December 2020, the FDA authorized two vaccines for emergency use. The first doses manufactured by Pfizer-BIONTECH rolled out to hospitals on Dec. 14, 2020. Since then, Inova has given more than 100,000 shots to healthcare workers throughout the Washington, DC region, and will now assist in vaccinating the local community based on the CDC guidelines.

However, despite this success, some people still may have concerns about being vaccinated. We understand that in order to stop the rapid spread of this infection, people need to be protected against it. The best way to be protected against an infection is immunization. It is estimated that about 80% of the human population will need to be protected in order to stop the pandemic.

Many people still have questions about the vaccine including questions about the development of the vaccine, its safety and efficacy, side effects and its impact on those with certain health conditions. Below, we answer many of these questions and provide links to resources for more information. If you still have questions, it is best to discuss these with your primary care doctor.

The COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you from getting sick, and is very likely to limit your ability to spread the virus. This will also help protect those around you in your community – your family, friends and neighbors – who may not be able to be vaccinated because of their age or certain health conditions.

Only people with a history of severe allergic reactions (e.g. anaphylaxis) to an ingredient in the vaccine should not get the vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns about getting the vaccine. For pregnant women or women trying to conceive, the CDC says there is no reason pregnant or lactating women should not receive the vaccine.

Carefully review the information below and discuss with your practitioner if you are unsure:

Vaccination Considerations for People who are Pregnant or Breastfeeding (CDC)

Vaccinating Pregnant and Lactating Patients Against COVID-19 (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)

No, you cannot catch COVID-19 from the vaccine. The vaccine does not use the virus like the flu shot. It helps your body build its own defense against the SARS-CoV-2 virus by using a synthetic form of the virus’s spike protein code called messenger RNA (mRNA).

The mRNA primes your immune system to recognize and respond to the virus spike protein. It teaches your immune system to recognize the virus as “foreign” and fight to block its spread. It uses mRNA to start the process and help remember the virus spike protein so it can get a quick start in fighting it off. The mRNA does not change anything in your cells.

The vaccine has no effect on the viral tests (PCR or antigen based nasal/oral swabs) used to diagnose COVID-19. For tests that are not used to diagnose active COVID-19 disease, like tests for antibodies in your blood, it will appropriately cause some of these to become positive.

The current vaccination process requires two shots to be sure you are capable of successfully fighting off the virus. After the first injection, there may be some immunity, but you will need the second to achieve a high level of protection. After your second shot, the immune system is fully activated to fight the virus approximately one to two weeks afterwards.

Please remember, until your immune system has been fully activated (has enough information to fight of the SARS-CoV2 infection) which happens after your second dose of the vaccine, you can still catch COVID-19. The more people who are vaccinated, the more quickly we can achieve herd immunity (which means 80% of people are vaccinated against COVID-19) and get back to “normal”, but until then we need to continue to wear a mask, wash our hands frequently, and socially distance even after our second shot.

No. Research using mRNA in a vaccine has been ongoing since the 1990s.

The vaccines being given at Inova were tested in more than 70,000 people worldwide. Everyone who receives the vaccine is being monitored afterwards, so if there are any problems, they can be addressed immediately. Inova has seen minimal side effects in the 100,000+ doses we have administered so far.

Most of the reported side effects (soreness at the site of injection, mild headache, body aches, low fever or chills) have been reported as mild to moderate and occur about 12-24 hours after the shot, and last no more than seven days (most are only for 24-48 hours). The second dose often produces more of these symptoms so it is suggested that you plan your work schedule around your second dose so that you can consider taking the day off after receiving the second dose of vaccine.

Remember, if you develop side effects, this is not a bad thing, it just means your immune system is working well. If you don’t develop side effects, this doesn’t mean that your immune system isn’t working, it just means our bodies react differently when we get the vaccine.

Everyone who gets the vaccine is asked to sign up for V-Safe, a program run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help track side effects. V-Safe will deliver a text message to you every day for about one week after you get the vaccine to check in to see how you are doing. If the responses you submit to V-safe are concerning, a representative from the CDC will call you to ask more questions. If you are experiencing mild side effects, you can take medication that you normally may take when you have a headache or body aches such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). You also can contact your primary care physician who can help you with any questions you may have.

It is important to recognize that shortness of breath, cough, loss of taste, and loss of smell are not vaccine side effects and should prompt a phone call to your physician.

These may be similar, in that both may be associated with fever, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue. The vaccine side effects are usually mild and last 36 hours or less. However, if you are concerned and or if your symptoms persist, contact your primary care provider for their advice on next steps.

The vaccines do not cause sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, or lack of taste/smell. If you develop any of these symptoms and have concerns about possible COVID-19 infection, you should talk to you healthcare professional.

It is not recommended to take prophylactic medications such as Advil or Tylenol for the purpose of preventing symptoms due to lack of information on the effect of antibody response. However, you may take these medications after vaccination to treat post-vaccination symptoms if they occur.

You will have some immunity about 10 days after the first shot. This is not adequate to protect you from infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus but you may experience a milder illness. People over 65 years of age may have less protection than younger people during the interval between the first and second shots. It is important to get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and for now, you must continue to demonstrate safety precautions including masking, social distancing and hand hygiene to protect yourself and others who have not been or are not able to be vaccinated due to age or medical condition.

Yes. The vaccine is designed to prevent symptomatic and serious disease.

It is important to get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and you should try to get the second dose within the window you were told when you got your first shot. However, being a few days late in getting your second shot should not be concerning. It is important to get the entire vaccine series to provide protection against COVID-19. Right now, one dose of the vaccine is not enough to provide full protection.

Currently, the vaccines still protect against the new virus variants (mutants). The changing of the virus is expected, as this is what viruses do, so it is best to get your vaccine when it is your turn. In order to stop the coronavirus from mutating, we need to stop it from infecting people and the best way to do that is to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Women undergoing fertility treatment or planning to get pregnant should be encouraged to receive vaccination if they are eligible. Since the vaccine is not a live virus, there is no reason to delay pregnancy attempts because of vaccination administration or to defer treatment until the second dose has been administered.

While COVID-19 vaccination can cause fever in some people (up to 16% of those vaccinated and mostly after the second dose), this risk should not be a concern when deciding whether to receive a vaccine while pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about a fever while pregnant.

Currently, there are limited data available on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for people who are pregnant. Speak with your healthcare provider to help you make an informed decision. However, based on how mRNA vaccines work, experts believe they are unlikely to cause harm to women who are pregnant or to the fetus.

The CDC, American College of OB-GYN, and the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine all state that COVID-19 vaccines should not be withheld from pregnant individuals, those planning to get pregnant, or those on fertility treatments who are otherwise eligible for vaccination. To date, the CDC is monitoring approximately 15,000 pregnant women who have received the COVID-19 vaccines. Learn more: Vaccinating Pregnant and Lactating Patients Against COVID-19

Note: Pregnant women with COVID-19 have a higher risk for severe illness, including death, than age-matched controls.

Yes it is safe to receive the vaccine before a surgical procedure. If the timing of the procedure is flexible then it is recommended to schedule the procedure at least 3 days but no more than a week after a vaccine dose. This guidance is given so that any symptoms such as a fever can be correctly attributed to the side effects of either vaccination or the operation/procedure itself.

No, the vaccine will not impact your procedure and appropriate COVID-19 precautions will still be followed regardless of vaccination status. The components of the vaccine should have no impact on the anesthesia or any medications used in relation to your surgical procedure.

We do not recommend postponing vaccination unless it would not be feasible to receive it due to the timing of the procedure or expected procedural recovery. Speak with your surgeon for more information. However, as noted above, it would be advisable to space your surgery date and vaccination date by at least 3 days to allow for the proper assignment of any symptoms that may arise such as fever to either the surgery or the vaccination.

If you were previously diagnosed with COVID-19 within the previous 90 days, you do not need another COVID-19 test before elective surgery.

The timing of elective surgery after recovery from COVID-19 utilizes both symptom and severity-based categories. Suggested wait times from the date of COVID-19 diagnosis to surgery are as follows:

• 4 weeks for an asymptomatic patient or recovery from only mild, non-respiratory symptoms
• 6 weeks for a symptomatic patient (e.g., cough, dyspnea) who did not require hospitalization
• 8-10 weeks for a symptomatic patient who is diabetic, immunocompromised, or was hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection
• 12 weeks for a patient who was admitted to an intensive care unit due to COVID-19 infection

These timelines should not be considered definitive; each patient’s preoperative risk assessment should be individualized, factoring in surgical intensity, patient co-morbidities, and the benefit/risk ratio of further delaying surgery.

Residual symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain are common in patients who have had COVID-19. These symptoms can be present more than 60 days after diagnosis. In addition, COVID-19 may have long term effects. Speak with your doctor about a preoperative evaluation.

No. Vaccination status will not have an impact on whether or not your surgery/procedure takes place.

Having surgery or a procedure is not part of the criteria used when prioritizing patients for the vaccine, however, we encourage everyone to get their vaccine as soon as it is their turn.

Based on CDC guidance, we are encouraging patients with active cancer to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when available. Active cancer refers to any cancer patient currently being treated or has been diagnosed within the last year. This can be given while on chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy.

Yes. Northern Virginia is currently in phase 1b of COVID-19 vaccine distribution as of January 14. This now includes any person age 65 or older or any person age 16-64 with a high risk medical condition such as cancer.

To properly manage the vaccination process, individuals who have received their initial vaccine dose from Inova should anticipate receiving their second dose at their scheduled follow-up appointment. Inova is currently working with local health departments to receive supply and vaccinate eligible populations. Updates about our supply and eligibility will be made on this page; please check back frequently.

Latest vaccine information from Inova

All vaccines can cause temporary swelling of the lymph nodes, which is a sign that the body is building immunity and making antibodies as intended. In some rare cases, reports of lymphadenopathy; swelling of the lymph nodes, can develop in the arm and neck region 2 to 4 days after COVID-19 vaccination. This can last, on average, 10 days. This temporary swelling can impact mammogram and breast ultrasound readings. Therefore, it is important that you provide an accurate health history including your vaccination status, timing and side (left vs. right arm) of vaccination at your breast imaging appointment.

If possible, we recommend scheduling routine screening mammograms either before your first COVID-19 vaccine or later than 14 days after vaccination (first or second dose). However, if you have any breast symptoms, you should not delay getting a mammogram or breast ultrasound.

Yes. Here's why:

• All visitors entering an Inova care site undergo a symptoms screening.
• At the point of entry to any Inova care site, all visitors are required to wear a cloth face-covering or mask at all times. Masks with vents/valves are not permitted; an Inova mask will be provided.
• Family members or friends are not allowed to wait in lobbies or common areas such as banks, cafeterias, chapels, food courts or any other area within the care site.

Yes, it is. Here's why:

• Inova has implemented additional procedures at all care sites, based on the CDC guidelines, to protect the safety of our patients, team members and community.
• Delaying the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of a potential emergency condition can put you at greater risk – especially if you have symptoms of a stroke or heart attack.

Read more and see ER locations

Yes. Inova offers medical appointments via video and telephone to safely connect you with your provider (physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant) from your home. A video or telephone appointment allows you to get your care without having to go to an Inova healthcare site.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VIRTUAL VISITS

Inova has a long history of protecting patients from harm and infection. We are nationally recognized for our commitment to quality and safety, and we continue to review, revise and implement all infection prevention and control measures established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state/local health agencies to provide the safest care.

• All clinical care providers wear a surgical mask when caring for patients.
• All Inova team members participate in twice daily symptom and temperature checks.
• Clinical care providers use social distancing and technology to help minimize close contact.
• We screen all patients and visitors at registration/check-in or by phone prior to their entry at our care sites.
• Potential COVID-19 patients are given face masks and placed into isolation immediately.
• In addition, we require every patient and visitor to wear a cloth face-covering or mask while they are in any Inova care site.
• Patients with infectious diseases remain isolated in their room at all times. Treatment comes to them.
• Equipment used to care for these patients is not shared with any other patient.

Our team members treat respiratory illnesses and infectious diseases every day while keeping our patients, visitors and themselves safe.

These clinics have been launched to help our patients recover safely at home, access outpatient intravenous therapies such as monoclonal antibody treatment when available, and/or receive supportive care in an ambulatory setting as an alternative to an emergency room visit or hospitalization.

The Inova Extended COVID-19 Care Clinics are accepting referrals for patients from all Inova Emergency Rooms, Inova Urgent Care Centers, Inova Primary Care Offices, as well as community practices.

Learn more

Inova encourages social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.

We limit visitors to provide the highest level of safety for our patients, team members and community. We encourage video meetings between patients and loved ones.

Our visitation guidance remains in effect until further notice. Please reference these links for our current visitation policies:

Inova’s Visitation Policy

VISITOR RESTRICTIONS: WOMEN’S AND CHILDBIRTH SERVICES AT ALL INOVA HOSPITALS

VISITOR RESTRICTIONS: INOVA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

The CDC recommends that anyone with possible or confirmed COVID-19 follow these self-care steps:

• Stay home except to get medical care.
• Monitor symptoms carefully. If your symptoms get worse, call your primary healthcare provider immediately.
• Get rest and stay hydrated.
• If you have a medical appointment, notify your healthcare provider ahead of time that you have or may have COVID-19.
• Stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. If possible, use a separate bathroom. If you must be around others, wear a facemask.

Yes, it is imperative now more than ever to have a steady blood supply available to support our patients. The need for blood never stops, and there is no substitute for human blood when it is needed for a patient.

It is safe to donate blood. Inova Blood Donor Services has implemented several new safety measures in response to COVID-19 to provide a safe donation experience for blood donors who visit their local donor center. Generous donors are needed now to ensure we can continue to provide an adequate and safe blood supply for our community’s patients. Each donation can save up to three lives, and takes less than an hour to donate.

Inova Blood Donor Services provides life-saving blood to three Trauma Centers, including the Level-One ER at Inova Fairfax Hospital and two other Northern Virginia trauma centers.

Sign up to donate blood

Make your appointment or ask questions about your eligibility to donate by calling 1-866-BLOODSAVES (1-866-256-6372) or visiting inovablood.org.

Photo ID Required. Please allow one hour for your blood donation. Face masks are required – for both donors and Inova team members.

No. Inova Blood Donor Services is no longer collecting convalescent plasma for patients in need, due to the new treatments being implemented over the course of the pandemic. Convalescent plasma was useful while the treatments were being developed, and now it is not needed.

Community members can support Inova’s Emergency Preparedness Fund, host their own fundraising website, donate supplies, share a note of gratitude or support, donate meals, give blood or give plasma for a research study (see plasma donation above).

Medical professionals can also apply for special paid positions to help our teams care for patients at Inova during the COVID-19 crisis. (Learn more)

You can learn more about these initiatives on the Inova Foundation website.