People with COVID-19 have reported a variety of symptoms – ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• 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

Below, you can find a listing of our free public testing locations in New Jersey.

In addition, free COVID-19 testing and treatment is available at Community Health Centers, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), to all people whether you have health insurance or not and regardless of your immigration status Find an FQHC near you with this search tool or on 211’s online list of community clinics.

Individuals with urgent symptoms may also continue to access services at acute care hospitals. The COVID-19 testing cost will be waived for uninsured individuals eligible for charity care. Information on the Charity Care Program can be found at: https://www.nj.gov/health/charitycare. You should talk to a medical provider before going to your local hospital.

For additional testing locations and information on COVID-19 testing in New Jersey, visit covid19.nj.gov/testing.

Middlesex County

JRMC, 275 Hobart Street, Perth Amboy

Appointments are same day. To schedule a COVID-19 test please call 732-376-9333.

Essex County

Shabazz HS, 80 Johnson Avenue Newark, NJ by appointment. Same day appointments are available. To schedule a COVID-19 test please call 973-679-7709. 

13th Ave School, 359 13th Avenue, Newark, NJ by appointment. Same day appointments are available. To schedule a COVID-19 test please call 973-679-7709.

If you tested positive for COVID-19 or are waiting for test results (regardless of vaccination status, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic):

• ISOLATE AT HOME: Stay away from people and pets for at least 5 full days (day 0 is the first day of symptoms, or if no symptoms, day 0 is the date the test was taken), AND wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask or respirator if you must be around others (whether at home or in public) from start of isolation through day 10.
• NOTIFY CLOSE CONTACTS: Tell your close contacts they may have been exposed so they can take steps to care for themselves and their families.
• IF ASYMPTOMATIC, MONITOR FOR SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19: If symptoms develop and you are at high risk of severe illness, consult with a healthcare provider right away. If symptoms develop within 10 days of when you were tested, restart the isolation clock with 0 being the day of symptom onset.
• POSTPONE TRAVEL: Avoid travel for a full 5 days after your first day of symptoms, or if asymptomatic, after the date of the positive test. Avoid public transportation.

Ending Isolation: Most people can end isolation after 5 full days (i.e., on Day 6) if asymptomatic, or if fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms are improving. Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months and need not delay the end of isolation. If symptoms persist (fever or if other symptoms have not improved), continue to isolate until fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication for 24 hours and other symptoms have improved.

Persons with moderate or severe illness and those who have weakened immune systems should isolate for a longer period of time. These persons should consult with their healthcare provider to determine the appropriate duration of isolation.

After Ending Isolation (i.e., Day 6-10)

• MASK: Wear a well-fitted mask or respirator when around others at home and in public through day 10. For those ending isolation on day 5, this would be during days 6 through 10. Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask until you are able to discontinue masking (i.e., on day 11). After the 5-day isolation period (or longer if symptoms persist), one may discontinue wearing a mask sooner than day 11 with two sequential negative antigen tests taken at least 48 hours apart. The first of the two antigen tests should be taken no sooner than day 6. If an antigen test result is positive, one may still be infectious and should continue wearing a mask and wait at least 48 hours before testing again. Continue taking antigen tests at least 48 hours apart until there are two sequential negative results (there may be a need to continue wearing a mask and testing beyond day 10).
• AVOID OTHERS AT HIGH-RISK FOR SEVERE ILLNESS: Regardless of when you end isolation, avoid being around people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease until at least day 11.
• POSTPONE TRAVEL: Postpone travel for a full 10 days if possible. If travel is necessary on days 6-10, wear a well-fitting mask when around others for the entire duration of travel. Persons unable to wear a mask should not travel during the 10 days.

Note: If you work in a healthcare setting or live in a high-risk congregate setting, you may be subject to different safety recommendations and timeframes.

Case Investigation

If you test positive for COVID-19, a New Jersey case investigator may reach out to you with information about how best to protect yourself and your loved ones. If you test positive on an at-home test you should notify your healthcare provider, or local health department if you don’t have a healthcare provider, to determine health concerns and address any questions you may have.

COVID-19 is mainly spread from person to person, so you will be asked about where you have been and the people you spent time with recently. The case investigator will help you identify any close contacts and advise you to notify them. A close contact is anyone you spent more than 15 minutes with over a 24-hour period and were within six feet. Your close contacts may notify their worksite, school, or daycare, if applicable. Case investigators will also connect you to medical care if needed.

NOTE: If you test positive using an at-home self-test, it is recommended that you notify your close contacts as these results may not be reported to local health departments. If you have questions or need assistance, reach out to your primary care provider or local health department.

Alerting Friends and Loved Ones

In addition to working with case investigators, you should tell anyone you were in close contact with about your positive COVID-19 test result so they can protect themselves and their loved ones.

Close contacts should:

• MASK: Immediately wear a well-fitting mask or respirator when around others at home or in indoor public settings as soon as you find out you were exposed to someone with COVID-19. The date of the last exposure is considered day 0 and a mask should be worn for 10 full days. Do not go to places where you are unable to mask until a full 10 days has elapsed since last contact.
• MONITOR FOR SYMPTOMS: Watch for a fever (100.4◦F or greater), cough, shortness of breath, or other COVID-19 symptoms. If symptoms develop, isolate immediately, get tested, and stay home until test results are known. If you are at high risk of severe illness, consult with a healthcare provider right away.
• TAKE PRECAUTIONS AROUND PERSONS AT HIGH-RISK FOR SEVERE ILLNESS: Take extra precautions when around persons who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe illness until at least day 11.
• TAKE PRECAUTIONS WHEN TRAVELING: Persons unable to wear a mask should not travel during the 10 days after exposure to COVID-19.
• TEST: Get tested on day 6, even if symptoms don’t develop. If you test positive, isolate immediately. If you test negative, continue to take precautions, including wearing a mask when around others at home and in public through Day 10. Individuals who already had COVID within the past 90 days should follow specific testing recommendations found at CDC’s guidance on Choosing a COVID-19 Test.

For individuals isolating at home, but live in large or multigenerational households, the Department of Health recommends taking the following precautions:

• For large households or homes with many people, persons who are sick should remain in a separate bedroom and stay away from anyone who is not sick as much as possible.
• If the sick person cannot be isolated in a separate room, consider having them isolate in an alternate location that has a separate bedroom and bathroom for them to rest and recover.
• If the sick person needs to leave the bedroom to use the bathroom (or kitchen), they should wear a mask.
• The sick individual should not eat meals with others in the household to limit the spread of the virus within the home.
• All persons living in the home should practice good hand hygiene (Wash hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol).
• Cleaning frequently touched surfaces regularly is important especially in the bathroom as well as doorknobs and stair rails

In New Jersey, face masks are no longer required in most outdoor and indoor settings.

The Department of Health recommends wearing a face mask whenever you have symptoms of COVID-19, tested positive, were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19, or live in a county with elevated or “high” COVID community levels.

In addition, businesses may continue to require face coverings for employees, customers, and guests. Businesses are not permitted to restrict the use of face masks by their staff, customers, or visitors.

How Face Coverings Save Lives

COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), so the use of face coverings is particularly important in settings where people are close to each other or where social distancing is difficult to maintain.

Wearing a face covering or mask has been shown to dramatically decrease the release of droplets from people’s mouths, which can carry infectious particles. Studies have demonstrated that masks are an important barrier to transmission of respiratory viruses.

What are the differences between masks?

While all masks and respirators provide some level of protection, loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection, layered finely woven products offer more protection, well-fitting disposable surgical masks offer even more protection, and well-fitting, high-filtration masks (respirators like N95, KN94, or KF94) offer the highest level of protection.

Double up your masks if you do not have access to a high-filtration mask. Single layer masks (bandanas, gaiters) are less effective, so wear a cloth mask with multiple layers or wear a cloth mask over a surgical mask.

Whatever product you choose, it is most important to wear a mask or respirator correctly (fit closely on the face without any gaps along the edges or around the nose) and be comfortable enough (covering your nose and mouth) so that you can keep it on when you need to.

Wearing a highly protective mask or respirator may be most important for certain higher risk situations, or by some people at increased risk for severe disease.

How to Wear A Face Covering or Mask Correctly

• Make sure you can breathe through it
• Your nose and mouth should be covered
• Make sure your mask fits snugly against your face. Gaps can let air with respiratory droplets leak in and out around the edges of the mask.
• Masks with exhalation valves are not recommended because they allow virus particles to escape
• Wash cloth masks at least once per day (or as soon as they become dirty)

Note: Masks are not recommended for children under 2 years, people who are incapacitated, people who have difficulty breathing, or any other person who cannot easily remove their own mask.

Can I use new drugs or therapeutics to treat COVID-19? Where do I get them?

COVID-19 Therapeutics Overview
If you test positive for COVID-19, you should ask your healthcare provider about whether a treatment is right for you.

For patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are not hospitalized and who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, several treatment options, including antiviral medications and monoclonal antibodies, are now widely available and accessible.

Each treatment option has its own eligibility criteria and suggested use. Your healthcare provider can determine whether you are eligible and what treatment is best for you.

Currently, all therapies require a prescription and should be used in addition to COVID-19 vaccines. These treatments are NOT a substitute for COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccination and other prevention measures are still recommended.

In addition, Evusheld is a monoclonal antibody treatment designed to prevent COVID-19. Evusheld is for patients who cannot take a COVID-19 vaccine or who are not expected to respond to a COVID-19 vaccine. This treatment requires a prescription and regular re-administration to protect qualified individuals against COVID-19.

Not all treatments will be available from all healthcare providers.

Check Local Availability

Need additional information about where to find a treatment nearby? The HHS Test to Treat Call Center is available at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). Information is available in more than 150 languages. The Disability Information and Access Line is available at 1-888-677-1199.

How to Access

1. If you test positive and are an older adult or someone who is at increased risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, treatment is available. Contact a healthcare provider right away after a positive COVID-19 test to determine if you are eligible for treatment, even if your symptoms are mild. You can also visit a Test to Treat location and, if eligible, receive a prescription from a provider at that location.
2. Follow CDC guidance on testing for COVID-19 and use the Test to Treat or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to find a testing location that can provide treatment if you test positive.
3. Don’t delay: Treatment must be started within the first few days of when your symptoms started to be effective.
4. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination is still the best way to prevent serious outcomes of COVID-19, including severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

Oral Antivirals for Treatment

Oral antivirals are pills that can reduce the risk of hospitalization and death in patients at high-risk for severe COVID-19, if treatment is started within five days of symptom onset. The two oral antivirals authorized for emergency use against COVID-19 require a prescription.

Authorized outpatient treatments:

1. Paxlovid (Pfizer)

• Fact Sheet for Patients and Caregivers
• Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers
• Frequently Asked Question: FDA EUA for Paxlovid

1. Lagevrio, previously called Molnupiravir (Merck)

• Fact Sheet for Patients and Caregivers
• Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers
• Frequently Asked Questions: FDA EUA for Lagevrio

Eligibility Information:
An oral antiviral may be appropriate for you if ALL of the following apply:

• You have tested positive for COVID-19,
• You have had symptoms for 5 days or fewer,
• You are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, and
• You are 12 years of age or older (18 years of age or older for Molnupiravir/Lagevrio)

How to Access:
A prescription is required. If you have started COVID-19 symptoms within the past five days, you should discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your health care provider.

If you do not have a routine health care provider. Test-to-Treat locations offer the opportunity to get evaluated, receive a prescription, and get the treatment dispensed in a one-stop location.

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are available to help uninsured individuals.

HHS’ COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator has a list of locations that have reported inventory on hand in the last day: https://covid-19-therapeutics-locator-dhhs.hub.arcgis.com/.

Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) for Treatment

Antibodies are proteins in the body that help the immune system to fight viruses, such as the virus that causes COVID-19.

Authorized outpatient treatments:

1. Bebtelovimab(Eli Lilly), which is given in one injectionFact Sheet for Patients and CaregiversFact Sheet for Health Care ProvidersFrequently Asked Questions: FDA EUA for Bebtelovimab

Eligibility Information:
Bebtelovimab may be appropriate for you if ALL of the following apply:

• You have tested positive for COVID-19,
• You have had symptoms for 7 days or fewer,
• You are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19,
• You are 12 years of age or older, and
• Other treatment options are not available or clinically appropriate

How to Access:
A prescription is required. If you have started COVID-19 symptoms within the past seven days, you should discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your health care provider.
HHS’ COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator has a list of locations that have reported inventory on hand in the last day: https://covid-19-therapeutics-locator-dhhs.hub.arcgis.com/.

Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) for Prevention

Antibodies are proteins in the body that help the immune system to fight viruses, such as the virus that causes COVID-19.

Evusheld is for use before you are infected with COVID-19 to help protect against the virus. It is for people who can not get a COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons or who may not respond well to a vaccine because they have a weak immune system due to a medical condition or treatment.

Authorized outpatient treatments:

1. Evusheld (AstraZeneca), which is given in one injection

• Fact Sheet for Patients and Caregivers
• Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers
• Frequently Asked Question: FDA EUA for Evusheld

Eligibility Information:
Evusheld may be appropriate for you if ALL of the following apply:

• You are not currently infected with SARS-CoV-2,
• You have not had a known recent exposure to SARS-CoV-2, andYou are moderately to severely immunocompromised
  OR You can not be vaccinated against COVID-19 for medical reasons.
• You are 12 years of age or older and weigh at least 88 pounds.

How to Access
A prescription is required. You should discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your health care provider.
HHS’ COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator has a list of locations that have reported inventory on hand in the last day: https://covid-19-therapeutics-locator-dhhs.hub.arcgis.com/.

Additional Information for Health Care Providers

Health care providers should discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with their patients. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed guidance:

• NIH Statement on Therapies for High-Risk, Nonhospitalized Patients With Mild to Moderate COVID-19.
• Interim Statement on Patient Prioritization for Outpatient Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Therapies or Preventive Strategies When There Are Logistical or Supply Constraints
• Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Treatment Guidelines

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a Side-by-Side Overview of Outpatient Therapies Authorized for Treatment of Mild-Moderate COVID-19 to help patients and providers make informed decisions.

Healthcare Provider Letter about Dispensing Information for Paxlovid
Paxlovid Patient Eligibility Screening Checklist Tool for Prescriber

Note: Effective September 1, everyone 12 years of age and older is recommended to get an updated COVID-19 bivalent booster dose that targets the Omicron variant, if it has been at least two months after your most recent booster or primary series. Sites are expected to have the new bivalent booster doses in the coming days.

Get vaccinated and boosted. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. CDC recommends COVID-19 primary series vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older, and COVID-19 boosters for everyone eligible ages 5 years and older.

Everyone 6 months or older is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in New Jersey and encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Vaccines are available to all New Jerseyans, regardless of immigration or insurance status.

Find a vaccine appointment at covid19.nj.gov/finder.

BOOSTER SHOTS

Note: On September 1, 2022, the CDC recommended updated bivalent Pfizer and Moderna booster shots that target the Omicron variant for everyone 12 years of age and older.

The bivalent boosters should be received at least two months after your most recent booster or primary series. As bivalent vaccines, these boosters will target both the original COVID-19 strain as well as the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants. This updated version of COVID-19 boosters offers stronger protections against severe illness and death from Omicron subvariants.

Children 5 through 11 years of age should get the monovalent Pfizer booster as previously recommended since the bivalent boosters are not yet authorized for this age group.

Studies show immunity wanes over time with COVID-19 vaccines, increasing the risk of getting a breakthrough infection and spreading it to others. To protect yourself and your loved ones, get a booster shot at any vaccination location.

The CDC recommends completing a primary series with mRNA vaccines (e.g. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) or Novavax, which are preferred over the J&J vaccine for prevention of COVID-19. Eligible adults may choose which mRNA bivalent booster vaccine they receive.

WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR APPOINTMENT

No documentation is required. If you have your CDC Vaccination Card, you should bring it with you so that your next dose can be added to your card. If you do not have your card, you can bring other COVID-19 vaccine records, including the digital record via the Docket app. The vaccine provider can also look up the individual’s vaccine record on the State’s immunization information system (NJIIS).

You do not need any proof of a medical condition, a note from a medical provider, or a prescription.

ASSISTANCE

The State’s toll-free Vaccine Call Center (1-855-568-0545) is available from 10 am to 6 pm, Mondays through Friday and 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday to help individuals find a nearby vaccination site, register individuals in the NJ Vaccine Scheduling System, answer questions about the vaccine, provide contact information for sites, and check registration status.

Docket App

Docket is an app from the NJ Department of Health that makes it easier for you and your family to securely access your COVID-19 vaccination record.

If you don’t have your vaccination card with you or lost it, you can easily access your record through the app to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination as needed.

The Docket app is free and available in the App store or on Google Play in English or Spanish depending on Smartphone settings.

To learn more about Docket, refer to the Department of Health’s frequently asked questions.

Requesting A New COVID-19 Vaccination Card

If you lost your COVID-19 vaccination card, you can request your immunization record by visiting the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS) and following their instructions.

Note: All immunization records will be mailed. They cannot be emailed.