Coronavirus (COVID-19) Testing and Service Changes

Updated March 26, 2021 — Scripps Health is continuing second dose appointments for those who received their first dose with us — and only those with an appointment will receive the vaccine. We are currently not receiving an adequate or consistent supply of COVID-19 vaccines for first dose appointments. Until we do, we encourage you to get your vaccine wherever possible. Please visit vaccinationsuperstationsd.com or vaccinefinder.org for vaccine availability in San Diego. Please do not call your physician’s office or our nurse line, as they cannot schedule COVID-19 vaccines for you. We will continue to update you as we receive more information.

At Scripps, we always care about the health and safety of our patients, but never more so than now. With extra precautions in place, we welcome you back for all your health care needs — including primary, specialty and emergency care. Scripps is here for you.

Caring for you during COVID-19

At Scripps, your health and safety are our top priorities. We have put specific safety measures in place to keep our patients, staff and visitors safe against COVID-19.

In this video, Dr. Sharieff along with our President and CEO Chris Van Gorder, address specific safety measures at Scripps, including curbside check-in, our no-visitor policy, separating COVID-19 patients and more.

How we are keeping you safe

A nurse wearing a mask talks with a patient wearing a face covering.

How we are keeping you safe

To make sure you get care safely, we are taking the following precautions:

Screenings for everyone entering our facilities
Required face coverings for all physicians, staff and patients
Curbside check-in option and social distancing in waiting rooms
Rigorous cleaning and disinfection for all facilities and equipment
Dedicated entrance and isolated zones for patients with coronavirus symptoms
Limited visitors to all our facilities (see our visitation policy)

COVID nurse line

If you suspect you have COVID symptoms, please call our nurse line at 888-261-8431 or use virtual care options. For general guidance on COVID-19, visit cdc.gov or call 2-1-1.

Frequently asked questions

We’ve answered some questions about the coronavirus — information about the vaccine, how to protect yourself and what to do if you need care not related to COVID-19.

Testing

Scripps is testing people with moderate symptoms, especially those who are at higher risk. We are offering antibody testing in very limited circumstances by physician order.

Visitor restrictions

In alignment with county recommendations, we are restricting visitors from our hospitals and clinics. Some exceptions may apply as determined by the caregiving team.

Appointments

As we continue to treat COVID-19 patients, please know our doctors are still here for you, both virtually and in-person. Some conditions may still require a visit to your doctor’s office.

COVID Recovery Program

Scripps has developed the COVID Recovery Program for our patients who have been previously infected with COVID-19 and are experiencing lingering complications.

Frequently asked questions

We’ve answered some common questions about coronavirus. We’ve also answered additional FAQs about testing and appointments.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

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

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fever
Chills
Repeated shaking with chills
Muscle pain
Headache
Sore throat
New loss of taste or smell

This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

When to seek medical attention for coronavirus?

If you have any of these emergency warning signs* for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately:

Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion or inability to arouse
Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.

Am I eligible to get the vaccine?

Vaccinations are available to those with certain health conditions, disabilities, illnesses, living spaces, or work environments that put them at higher risk for serious COVID-19 illness.

If you feel that you qualify through the expanded vaccination eligibility criteria issued by the County of San Diego, we encourage you to schedule your vaccine wherever you can. Visit vaccinationsuperstatonsd.com or vaccinefinder.org for vaccine appointments in San Diego.

There is no letter/proof of eligibility required for your medical condition. You will be required to complete an attestation confirming that you have a medical condition that qualifies.

How can I best protect myself and others from coronavirus?

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person between those who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). This occurs through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

To protect yourself and others:

Stay home except to take care of essential needs or go to an essential job, and don't go to work if you are sick.
Practice social distancing. Keep at least six feet away from other people unless they’re family. Avoid gatherings of any size.
Wash hands with soap and water.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. If a tissue is unavailable, cough or sneeze into your bent elbow.
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
Wear a cloth face cover if you have to go out in public where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Non-medical cloth masks are recommended for the public. Surgical masks and N-95 respirators are in short supply and should be reserved for health care providers caring for patients. Note, masks with small plastic valves are not being permitted at Scripps. While they protect the wearer, they do not protect others, and you’ll be asked to put on a different mask. Neck gaiters, which can be pulled over the mouth and nose as needed, are also not being allowed.

Is it safe to go to the hospital or a doctor’s office?

At Scripps, everything we do, we do to protect the health and safety of our patients, staff and clinicians. That is why we are thoughtfully and cautiously phasing in a return of services to make sure that you can access the care you need when you need it.

Rest assured that our clinics and hospitals are safe places to receive medical care for everything from preventative health visits at our outpatient clinics to heart care and cancer treatments at our specialty clinics to immediate medical issues at our urgent care facilities and emergency rooms.

What safety measures against coronavirus are taking place?

To protect everyone who enters our facilities, all patients and visitors are screened at the entry doors. We also have put in place more safeguards in our facilities to further protect team members and patients. Enhanced infection prevention and safety measures include:

Isolating patients with coronavirus
Maintaining enhanced visitor restrictions at all our hospitals and clinics
Requiring all physicians, staff members, patients and visitors to wear face coverings
Rigorous cleaning and disinfecting protocols for all facilities and equipment
COVID-19 testing for all patients being admitted to the hospital, OB patients and those scheduled for surgery

Patients and visitors to all Scripps facilities should bring their own face coverings with them to help protect themselves and others.

What should I do if I need emergency care unrelated to COVID-19?

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, emergency medical situations unrelated to COVID-19 still occur. If you are experiencing a true emergency, please rest assured that Scripps is here for you.

People experiencing life-threatening conditions, such as a heart attack or stroke, should not delay seeking emergency help out of fear of contracting the virus in the hospital or due to concern about adding additional strain to the medical system. If you have a medical emergency — whether related or unrelated to COVID-19 — you should seek medical assistance and/or call 911.

Our hospitals are taking necessary steps to reduce exposure to the coronavirus. For example, all staff and patients must wear masks, patients with coronavirus are isolated from other patients and no visitors are allowed (except under special circumstances).

For those patients who may have an orthopedic injury or musculoskeletal concern, please call our orthopedic team at 858-554-7990. They will either schedule a virtual appointment with one of our orthopedic providers to evaluate your injury and provide clinical recommendations, or will schedule a same-day, in-person appointment at Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines.

Knowing the level of care you need — whether it be an emergency room, urgent care or telemedicine — could save your life in a medical emergency and can ensure that you get appropriate treatment while allowing hospitals to make the best use of their available resources.

Is Scripps taking donations of masks and other supplies?

Thank you to the hundreds of individuals and companies that have stepped forward in this difficult time with donations of medical supplies and other goods. As we continue to care for COVID-19 patients, we want you to know we appreciate that help and are still collecting donations to ensure our staff, physicians and patients have what they need to get through this crisis. While we currently have the appropriate masks and other supplies on hand to provide necessary protection, our supply cycles are not guaranteed.

To further boost our supply, we are gladly accepting donations of:

N95 masks/respirators
Surgical/procedural masks
Cloth masks and cone masks
Isolation gowns
Non-latex gloves
Disinfecting wipes and cleaners
Bottled gel hand sanitizer

Whether you’re able to help a little or a lot, thank you for thinking of us at Scripps. It’s heartwarming to know the people of San Diego want to care for us as we care for them.

Please contact us first at corpsupplychain@scrippshealth.org so we can discuss your donation and arrange for delivery.

How can I support Scripps in the fight against COVID-19?

Many people have asked what they can do to help our doctors and staff. While we continue to ensure our physicians, nurses and staff have the resources they need to safely care for patients, we have set up a special Scripps COVID-19 Fund to directly support our response to the health care needs of our community during this unprecedented time.

Gifts made to the Scripps COVID-19 Fund will help us pay for supplies, care for patients and support the staffing and operations fully focused on combating this virus and keeping our community safe. You can also share a message of thanks and inspiration using our online tribute form.

Can I get a note from my doctor clearing me to return to work after recovering from coronavirus?

Scripps Health physicians and care providers will not be supplying letters to patients to “clear” them of COVID-19 in order to return to work. This is in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the CDC that state, “employers should not require a positive COVID-19 test result or a healthcare provider’s note for employees who are sick to validate their illness, qualify for sick leave, or to return to work.”

Our recommendation is that employers adhere to criteria set forth by the CDC in which a patient is considered “recovered from COVID-19” and ready to return to work. This includes:

Seven days have passed since the patient’s symptoms first appeared AND
The patient has not had a fever for at least 72 hours/3 days without the use of a fever-reducing medication AND
The patient’s respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough or shortness of breath) have improved.

At this time, Scripps does not recommend using a negative COVID-19 test result as a “return to work” criteria due to uncertainties of testing reliability, accuracy and capabilities. Rather, Scripps providers recommend that patients have NO symptoms for at least 3 days before returning to work.

For further guidance on returning to work, visit:

Can I get a note from my doctor for travel cancellations during the coronavirus pandemic?

Physician notes for travel cancellations will only be written for confirmed illness during time of expected travel. In some cases, trip cancellation insurance can protect your financial investment in a trip if you need to change your itinerary in the event of an international outbreak, such as this. We recommend working with your travel agency, hotel or airline regarding refunds. Please visit the CDC’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 travel information page for the most up-to-date information on travel recommendations and restrictions.

What are Scripps plans to respond to a possible lack of resources?

Scripps Health seeks to provide safe, high quality care to all patients who come to us. Unfortunately, California is experiencing an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases. Resources — such as staffing and supplies — are becoming strained. Scripps is working very closely with the other hospitals in San Diego county and across the state to avoid reaching a crisis state, if possible. Scripps is committed to ensuring our patients will receive appropriate care.

The State of California has developed the Crisis Care Continuum Guidelines that addresses the potential need to determine when resources may be inadequate for the needs of all patients. These guidelines are designed to assist with allocation of available resources based on the goal of providing the best possible outcome for the largest number of people impacted.

Find more information related to the state guidelines.