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SYMPTOMS
Patients with COVID-19 have shown mild to severe respiratory illness, including:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of Breath
According to the World Health Organization, people may be sick with the virus for 1 to 14 days before developing symptoms. The most common symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment.
WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE
You should seek medical care if you are not getting better within a week, or if your symptoms get worse. It is best to call your doctor ahead of time to discuss your symptoms, if possible. It is recommended that you seek medical care for any serious symptoms, such as:
If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that you have, or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If possible, put on a face mask before emergency medical services arrive.
PREVENTING THE SPREAD
You should follow the prevention steps below until a health care provider or local health department says you can return to your normal activities:
Separate yourself from other people in your home: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
Take care of your mental health: You might be feeling anxious, afraid, lonely or uncertain. The following link has a guide with a list of helpful behavioral health resources and a few tips for taking care of your emotional health while you are quarantined: https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma14-4894.pdf
Wear a face mask: If you have one, you should wear a face mask when you are around other people (for example, sharing a room or vehicle) or pets, and before you enter a health care provider’s office. If you do not have a face mask, maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from other people
Cover your coughs and sneezes: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in a lined trash can.
Clean your hands often: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60 to 95% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if your hands are visibly dirty.
Avoid touching your face: Viruses that affect the respiratory system enter the body through mucous membranes which are found in the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Clean all high-touch surfaces every day: High-touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.
Avoid sharing personal household items: You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels or bedding with other people or pets in your home. After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.