COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans and can spread from person to person.

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Congestion or Runny Nose
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you experience any of these symptoms, we encourage you to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 swab test or make a telemedicine appointment. We will be able to evaluate your symptoms and tell you the next steps to take. 

Please be aware some people may have uncommon symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, conjunctivitis, signs of a stroke, or rashes such as hives, blister-type lesions, or blue finger tips and toes. Children may present with the signs and symptoms of Kawasaki’s Disease. Older individuals may also present with unusual symptoms such as confusion, sleeping more, dizziness, or decreased appetite. 

If your symptoms become severe, call 911.

Two kinds of tests are currently available for COVID-19: a diagnostic test (PCR swab test) to identify active infection and a serology test to detect antibodies and assumed immunity. MD Now offers both tests at all our locations. Learn more about our COVID-19 testing capabilities.

For comprehensive testing information, please visit the CDC website.

Your results can be viewed through the BioReference Laboratories patient portal. Follow the steps below to access your results.

1. Go to bioreference.com/patient-portal and select PATIENT PORTAL.

2. Click the CREATE AN ACCOUNT button and complete the registration process.

3. Results typically are available within 48 hours of your test, however it may vary depending on the day and time the test occurred so please continue to check back regularly.

Please directly contact the clinic your child was tested at for their COVID results.

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to COVID-19. It is thought Coronavirus is spread mainly from person-to-person who are in close contact through respiratory droplets produced from an infected person. To reduce the spread of COVID-19 everyone should:

• Wash their hands regularly. If soap and water is not readily available use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home as much as possible and put distance between themselves and others.
• Cover their mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a kleenex.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.

Visit the CDC website for more tips on how to further protect yourself and others.

Social distancing means keeping space between yourself and others. To slow the spread of COVID-19 people should:

• Stay at least 6 feet or more apart
• Refrain from gathering in groups and avoid mass gatherings
• Stay out of crowded places
• Wear a mask if traveling with others in a car or on public transportation

Learn more about social distancing and how to protect yourself.

The CDC recommends that people wear a cloth face covering when social distancing practices are difficult to protect the people around you if you are infected but do not have symptoms. This will help slow the spread of COVID-19. Surgical masks and N-95 respirators are considered critical supplies and should be reserved for use by healthcare works and other first responders.

We encourage you to follow CDC’s guidance on how to disinfect your home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

If someone is sick in your household or is asymptomatic but has tested positive for COVID-19, we suggest following CDC’s guidance to protect yourself and others in your home.

If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms you might have COVID-19. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, contact MD Now or your healthcare provider and keep track of your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign, such as trouble breathing, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

To have your symptoms evaluated, take advantage of our MD Now Virtual Visits, so you can receive care in the comfort of your own home. We can take care of a wide range of health care concerns and will determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19.

Yes. In addition to our standard infection control protocols, which include sanitizing exam rooms and tablets between patients and sanitizing common areas regularly throughout the day, we have taken additional steps to protect our patients and staff which include:

• Encouraging social distancing by offering patients to wait in their cars after check-in.
• Encouraging all patients to wear masks.
• Designating exam rooms for patients with upper respiratory symptoms.

The test we use is referred to as PCR tests, which many health experts deem the most reliable and accurate test available to detect an active COVID-19 infection. At this time, these tests have been found to be more accurate than many other tests on the market that provide same-day test results. You can expect your COVID test results within 48 hours and peace of mind knowing that they are reliable and accurate.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Florida Department of Health
• Food and Drug Administration