If you’re feeling bad, you may start to wonder if it’s the flu or COVID-19. Don’t worry. Hendrick Urgent Care is now offering a new test which screens for COVID-19, as well as Flu A&B! The test only takes about 15 minutes and has a high level of accuracy. It has been convenient for our patients and has decreased their in-clinic time. When someone comes in to be tested for either the flu or COVID, if they meet certain criteria, they will be triaged, and tested simultaneously. This allows us to diagnose patients with greater speed, which means we can begin the proper treatments faster. This also lets us treat patients with other medical conditions more quickly. As the Greek philosopher Plato said, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” and Hendrick Urgent Care is proud to be one of the first to use this method.
Similar Symptoms
One of the best ways that you can quickly tell if you have COVID or the flu is through your symptoms. A very significant difference is in how quickly you can start experiencing the side effects. If someone is exposed to the flu, they usually start feeling sick within 1-4 days after catching it. With COVID-19, they can start to feel bad up to 2 weeks after being exposed. Another big difference is COVID-19 is known to cause loss of taste and smell, which is very rare with the flu. However, they can both cause fever, chills, congestion, coughing, fatigue, and several other symptoms, which can make it tricky to tell which is which without a test.
Quick, Quality Care
It is very simple to receive one of these tests if needed; simply check-in online, or call our phone number, and we will have you in and out of the clinic in no time. However, while we handle illnesses and certain injuries, if you are experiencing serious symptoms, you should go straight to the nearest emergency room. Such symptoms include high fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and more. You can learn more about when to visit your Hendrick Urgent Care or the Emergency Room here.
Hendrick Urgent Care strives to provide the highest quality healthcare by serving all our patients with integrity, respect, and with the desire to make a difference in the lives of everyone who enters our clinics. To learn more about us, visit our website or contact us. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.