COVID-19 can cause anything from mild symptoms to very severe illness and can appear between two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Common symptoms to watch for include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Seek emergency care if you experience:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent chest pain or pressure
• Confusion or brain fog that feels new
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face on those with light skin (Those with dark skin may notice a bluish tint around the eyes, gums, lips or fingernails.)

If you experience other symptoms that concern you or are severe, contact your health care provider.

If seeking emergency care either by calling 911 or if you are taking someone to the emergency room, notify caregivers that you need care for someone with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19.

Flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses and share common symptoms, but they are caused by different viruses. Because many of the symptoms are similar, it may be difficult to tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 based on symptoms alone.

Both the flu and COVID-19 can be spread from person to person and are spread mainly by droplets when those who have the virus cough, sneeze or talk. In addition, both viruses may be spread from contact with an infected person or by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then one’s own mouth, nose or eyes.

As COVID-19 guidelines change, refer to the CDC for guidance.

Norton Healthcare Express Services

2949 Breckenridge Lane
Louisville, KY 40220

New or existing patients can schedule COVID-19 vaccines at this drive-thru location for children ages 5 years and up by calling (502) 861-4500.

Primary Care

COVID-19 testing and treatment for adults is available at Norton Community Medical Associates primary care offices. An appointment is required and will include a visit with a provider.

Find a Provider

Norton Community Medical Associates or Norton Women’s Care

Existing adult patients of our primary care and OB/GYN locations can get a COVID-19 vaccine at their provider’s office. Call your location directly to schedule, or ask for a COVID-19 vaccine at your upcoming appointment.

Norton Children’s Medical Group pediatrician offices

New and existing pediatric patients may schedule a COVID-19 vaccine with their pediatrician’s office. Please contact your pediatrician’s office directly by phone to schedule.

Norton Immediate Care Centers

COVID-19 testing and treatment for all ages is available seven days a week. Reserve your spot online to wait at home or walk in; will include a visit with a provider.

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Norton Prompt Care Clinics

COVID-19 testing and treatment are available for patients ages 2 or older. An appointment is required and will include a visit with a provider.

Bring any photo ID and insurance information, if applicable.

Rapid PCR and on-site antigen tests are available at most locations and provide results within 24 hours. Your results will be sent electronically to your Norton MyChart account.

It’s always a good idea to contact your insurance provider to confirm your coverage. COVID-19 testing for travel is also billed through insurance. All locations accept most insurance plans. If you prefer to pay for the test yourself, payment will be due at your visit. Cost may vary depending on type of COVID-19 test required. Other providers, including community COVID-19 testing sites, may provide COVID-19 testing free of charge to those without insurance.

How Do I Access Pre-admission COVID-19 Testing? 

As part of the pre-admission testing process, Norton Healthcare may require unvaccinated patients or vaccinated patients with symptoms to be tested for COVID-19. Your physician’s office will schedule an appointment. Review the directions to Norton Healthcare Express Services, where your test will take place. 

Labor and delivery patients will be tested as they arrive at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital or Norton Hospital.

Directions and Instructions (Download)

If you have COVID-19, it’s best to isolate yourself at home except for medical appointments. Make sure to restrict activities outside your home, such as going to work and school, visiting family and friends, and visiting public spaces such as grocery stores, churches and retail locations. The one exception to going out in public is when seeking medical care. While quarantining at home, stay away from others who share your home and avoid sharing household items. See these CDC guidelines for additional information, including how long you can expect to be contagious. Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often.

Norton Healthcare has taken a leading role testing experimental COVID-19 treatments in Louisville and Southern Indiana, offering access to a growing list of clinical trials.

Norton Healthcare was first in the world to enroll COVID-19 patients in three separate clinical trials.

COVID-19 Clinical Trials

Although anyone at any age can get long COVID-19, you may be at higher risk if you’ve had a severe COVID-19 illness, such as one requiring hospitalization or intensive care. Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, experienced before or during a COVID-19 illness, also increase your risk.

While symptoms of long COVID may vary greatly, unfortunately, there is no testing that can confirm long COVID. Talk to your provider if you are experiencing lingering symptoms that are difficult to explain, such as:

• Chronic fatigue
• Brain fog
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating
• Change in smell or taste

Follow these tips for taking care of yourself if you experience long COVID-19.

• Rest: If you have or are experiencing long COVID-19, you may have difficulty falling asleep. Adequate sleep is important, as it supports immune function, brain function and mood stabilization, and it decreases your risk for obesity. COVID-19 insomnia is listed as a sleep disorder affecting more than half of those who have had COVID-19. If you’re having trouble falling or staying asleep, try to:
  • Maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
  • Create a relaxing bedtime routine by listening to soothing music or practicing relaxation exercises.
  • Limit screen exposure to phones, tablets, computers and TVs.
  • Limit naps.
  • Manage your mental health by reducing stress and anxiety.
• Diet: Food is fuel and medicine for your body. The Mediterranean diet has been shown to improve health outcomes.
• Exercise: If you’re new to exercise or are still experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, consult with your primary care provider before you start or resume an exercise program. Set reasonable goals. For instance, you may start gradually with only five minutes of exercise and increase your duration and intensity as your body adjusts. Walking, yoga, tai chi and swimming are great exercises for your overall wellness. Strive to make exercise a part of your daily habit. Recovering from COVID-19 is long and slow for some people. That’s why it’s important to adjust your expectations and activities depending on how you feel. Patients who may experience heart palpitations should discuss their condition with their primary care provider.

Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s offer COVID-19 vaccination appointments for ages 6 months and older. Refer to CDC guidelines on staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.

As of September 2024, updated COVID-19 vaccines are now available that more closely target circulating variants. Based on the CDC guidelines, eligible patients can receive a single dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine at least two months after their last dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

• COVID-19 vaccines are covered for commercial insurance, Medicare and Medicaid plans.
• Children 18 and under with Medicaid will receive Vaccines for Children (VFC) program COVID-19 vaccines.
• For uninsured adults, the CDC’s Bridge Access Program provides COVID-19 vaccines through CVS or Walgreens. Check with your local location for details.

Communication about your Norton Healthcare vaccine appointment will come through your free Norton MyChart account. If you don’t have a Norton MyChart account, sign up today.

Norton Prompt Care Clinics

New or existing patients can schedule COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 12 months and up by calling (502) 446-5555 or scheduling online.

Norton Community Medical Associates or Norton Women’s Care

Existing adult patients of our primary care and OB/GYN locations can get a COVID-19 vaccine at their provider’s office. Call your location directly to schedule, or ask for a COVID-19 vaccine at your upcoming appointment.

Norton Children’s Medical Group pediatrician offices

New and existing pediatric patients may schedule a COVID-19 vaccine with their pediatrician’s office. Please contact your pediatrician’s office directly by phone to schedule.

You may call the location you are scheduling with directly; dial (502) 629-1234, option 3; or manage your appointments online for most locations through your Norton MyChart account.

Details of a patient’s COVID-19 vaccination history — including the dates of each vaccine dose — are available in Norton MyChart. If you have lost or misplaced your COVID-19 vaccination card and received your vaccination(s) through Norton Healthcare, use your Norton MyChart account to obtain your vaccination information.

COVID-19 vaccines are updated to better match circulating variants of the virus. As the virus evolves, new variants can evade immunity from earlier versions of the vaccine or from previous infections. Updated vaccines can improve your protection against these variants.

You may call the location you are scheduling with to see what brand of vaccine is available.

Yes, if you are pregnant, you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines for all ages 6 months and older, including people who are breastfeeding.

Yes, there can be side effects to getting a COVID-19 vaccine, but they are generally mild and temporary. Common side effects include:

1. Pain at the injection site: This is one of the most common reactions and typically resolves within a few days.
2. Fatigue: Feeling tired or fatigued for a day or two after the vaccine is common.
3. Headache: Some people experience headaches after getting vaccinated.
4. Muscle or joint pain: This can occur in the days following the vaccination.
5. Chills or fever: Some people may experience a mild fever or chills as their immune system responds to the vaccine.
6. Swelling or redness at the injection site: This is usually mild and short-lived.

Serious side effects are rare but can occur. These may include severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), though these are extremely uncommon, and vaccination sites are equipped to handle such emergencies. It’s important to report any unusual or severe symptoms to your health care provider.