Online Doctor's Note for COVID-19

When you're isolating with COVID-19, the last thing you should do is sit in a waiting room. A doctor licensed in your state can review your case online and, if appropriate, issue a legitimate note the same day so you can rest and recover at home.

  • State-licensed doctors only
  • Online, written review
  • Money-back if a doctor can’t help
  • No charge to reserve

Launching soon in TX, PA, IL, OH, MI, WA, AZ, TN, IN.

Illustration of someone resting at home and reviewing a doctor's note on their phone

Can you get a doctor's note for COVID-19 online? Yes. If you have COVID-19 or symptoms of it, a US-licensed physician can review your case through a quick online form and issue a same-day doctor's note excusing you from work or school, with no clinic or video visit needed in most states.

When you might need a note for COVID-19

COVID-19 often means staying home to rest and avoid spreading it, and employers or schools frequently ask for documentation. If you've tested positive or have symptoms and can't easily get to a clinic, an online review is a fast, legitimate way to get the note you need. Follow current CDC and local guidance on isolation, which can change over time.

What the note includes

Your note confirms that you reported symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and were advised to rest for the relevant dates. It does not diagnose or treat you and isn't a prescription. It is a straightforward absence note from a licensed doctor, watermarked, and it can be verified with your permission.

We focus on legitimate, low-risk notes. We don’t issue FMLA, disability, or fitness-for-duty paperwork, and we never diagnose, treat, or prescribe online.

How it works

  1. Tell us what’s going on

    Answer a short, adaptive 2-minute form about your symptoms — not a static tick-box questionnaire.

  2. A clinician licensed in your state will review it

    At launch, a licensed clinician will review your written answers, may ask a follow-up question, and can decline if a note isn’t appropriate.

  3. Get your note by email

    At launch, notes will arrive as a PDF with a verification code. Turnaround targets will be published before we open.

If your symptoms are severe — trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, a very high fever, or you feel you’re getting worse — seek in-person or emergency care. An online absence note is not a substitute for treatment.

What COVID-19 symptoms typically look like

The CDC lists a wide range of possible COVID-19 symptoms: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, congestion or a runny nose, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms can appear anywhere from two to fourteen days after exposure, and the CDC notes they may start mild and progress to something more serious, so how you feel on day one isn’t always how you’ll feel on day three. Because flu and COVID-19 share many of the same symptoms, the CDC notes you can’t reliably tell them apart without a test; many testing locations offer combined flu and COVID-19 tests if that distinction matters for your treatment options.

When to seek emergency care instead of resting at home

Most COVID-19 cases are managed at home, but the CDC lists specific emergency warning signs that mean it’s time to call 911 rather than wait it out: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, trouble staying awake, or lips, nail beds, or skin that look unusually pale, gray, or blue. If you have any of these, tell the emergency operator you have or may have COVID-19. An absence note is not emergency care and shouldn’t delay it.

When it’s reasonable to go back to work or school

CDC guidance for respiratory viruses, which covers COVID-19, gives a specific marker for returning to normal activities: for at least 24 hours, your symptoms need to be improving overall, and you need to have gone without a fever, without using fever-reducing medication. For the five days after you meet that bar, the CDC recommends added precautions, such as good hygiene, a well-fitted mask around others, physical distancing, or testing before being around people indoors, since you can still be contagious for a while even as you start feeling better. People with weakened immune systems can remain contagious longer.

What the note covers, testing, and privacy

A positive test isn’t required to get a note here. The note reflects the symptoms you report and the doctor’s judgment, though it’s fine to mention a positive result if you have one. It confirms that you reported symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and were advised to rest for specific dates. It doesn’t have to name COVID-19 specifically if you’d rather it didn’t, and it doesn’t diagnose or treat you. Your employer or school can confirm it’s genuine, but only with your permission, since your medical information isn’t shared without your consent.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a positive COVID test to get a note?
No test result is required. The note reflects your reported symptoms and the doctor's judgment. If you did test positive, you can mention that.
How many days can a COVID note cover?
The doctor decides based on your reported symptoms and current guidance; short rest periods aligned with isolation advice are typical.
What if my symptoms are severe?
An absence note isn't medical care. If you have trouble breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, new confusion, or trouble staying awake, seek emergency care right away.
How long should I stay away from others with COVID-19?
CDC guidance suggests staying home until, for at least 24 hours, your symptoms are improving overall and you've had no fever without fever-reducing medication, then taking added precautions like masking around others for five more days.
Will my employer accept a COVID note from an online doctor?
A note signed by a licensed physician is a legitimate medical document. Employer or school policies on what documentation they require vary. More →

Sources

Need a doctor’s note for COVID-19?

Launching soon in TX, PA, IL, OH, MI, WA, AZ, TN, IN.