When to go to the hospital for COVID-19
If you are experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms, like shortness of breath, please come to our Emergency Room. MMMC is a safe place for care. Protective measures are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
MMMC’s ER is not a community testing site. Please do not come to the ER for COVID-19 testing unless you are experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms, listed below:*
Severe Symptoms
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
If you are experiencing the severe symptoms listed below, call 911 or go to the Emergency Room. Do not ignore your body's warning signs. Delaying treatment can have serious, even deadly consequences.
Symptoms that may indicate a life-threatening emergency include*:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
- Sudden dizziness, weakness or fainting
- Sudden change to vision
- Confusion, sudden change in your mental status
- Sudden or severe pain
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea
- Vomiting or coughing blood
- Difficulty speaking
Severe COVID-19 symptoms to watch include:
- Shortness of breath while at rest
- Dry cough, fever, breathing getting more difficult
- Significant or worrisome cough that is increasing
- Confusion or sudden change in mental status
- Chest pain
- Low oxygen levels
- Extreme sleepiness or inability to wake
- Blue face or lips
*This list may not include all possible symptoms. Trust your gut. Call your medical provider or call 911 for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
Moderate Symptoms
If you are not experiencing shortness of breath, but are getting sicker, you may need to be evaluated by a medical professional. If you’re concerned, call your primary care provider or visit an urgent care facility.
Symptoms to watch closely, especially in combination:
- Fever with muscle aches and fatigue
- Reduced sense of taste and smell
- Severe diarrhea and other stomach problems
- Increasing dry, persistent cough that is worsening
Mild Symptoms
If you think you were exposed to COVID-19, or have mild symptoms, please do NOT come to the hospital for a test. If you have mild symptoms, you can schedule a test at a community testing clinic on Maui.
If you are experiencing mild symptoms:
- Stay at home. Self-quarantine is critical to stopping spread.
- Contact your doctor, or use the CDC’s COVID-19 Self-Checker Tool to help provide some information on next steps.
- If your doctor or the self-checker tool suggests you get tested, find the nearest testing location as well as other resources for isolation, quarantine, or notifying potential exposed contacts on Hawaii Department of Health’s COVID-19 website at hawaiicovid19.com.
- Wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands often, and disinfect high-touch surfaces.