Individuals coming into the hospital with symptoms suggestive of possible COVID-19 should be tested for the virus. Outpatients may be asked to stay home and self-quarantine if symptoms are mild or may be asked to come in for evaluation and testing based on individual risk and level of symptoms. Suggestive symptoms include new cough, shortness of breath, achiness, or fevers. For more information please contact the UCSF Health COVID-19 hotline at 415-514-7328.

COVID-19 testing requires an order from a health care practitioner (physician or advanced care practitioner) and is based on assessment of symptoms.

The test is generally accurate during the symptomatic phase of infection. Before symptoms begin or after symptoms go away, the level of the virus may be lower, which can make the test less accurate. Most people do not need repeat testing, but in uncommon cases, your doctors might decide to test again.

Time to results vary based on many factors, currently most test results for inpatients are available in less than 24 hours.  Outpatient test results are generally available within 72 hours. Your doctors and the Department of Public Health will determine when you may return home. Some people can be discharged back to home quarantine before symptoms have completely gone away.

Visitors are restricted by orders from the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

For more information on visitor restrictions including how UCSF is available to help you please go to UCSF Visitor Assistance.

Information on COVID-19 is available at the CDC Website.

Repeat testing may be useful to determine if an individual is still shedding virus and will assist with decisions about level of isolation precautions and discharge planning. In some cases, these decisions can be based on symptoms. 

If ready to leave the hospital, patients may be discharged to home isolation even with positive testing. This decision is made in consultation with public health authorities.

Visitors are restricted by orders from the San Francisco Department of Public Health. For more information on visitor restrictions including how UCSF is available to help you please go to UCSF Visitor Assistance.

As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available. Guidance for how to enact home isolation can be found at the CDC Website.

If you test positive for COVID-19, the Department of Public Health will be notified and will assist with notifying contacts and making recommendations about isolation and testing.

Prognosis of COVID-19 varies based on many factors, including age and other medical problems. Most people will recover from their illness but some will get sicker and may require hospitalization. A very small minority will die from COVID-19.

Patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 infections may be tested prior to discharge. The decision to repeat testing is made at the discretion of the treating team in consultation with public health authorities and the hospital infection prevention team.

Your symptoms will likely last several days but may continue for up to a couple of weeks. If your symptoms are worsening, contact your physician and seek medical attention.

Additional guidance can be found at the CDC Website.

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are medications currently used to treat malaria and inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. They are under active investigation for treatment and prevention of COVID-19 infection. We don’t know yet if these medications are effective for either of these indications. Both medications can have serious side effects, including the possibility of serious heart arrhythmia and low blood sugar. They can be dangerous and even lethal when taken at very high doses, and in combination with other medications that may have interactions. People who do not have COVID-19 and who aren’t participating in a study or under the care of a medical provider should not take these medications as doing so may lead to serious health problems and may not be effective in treating COVID-19 infection. It is not advisable to have a supply of these medications “just in case” as this may cause shortages for those who need these medications for ongoing medical conditions.