If you are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19

If you are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19

What should I do if I feel I or my child may have a COVID-19 infection?

First, call your doctor or pediatrician for advice.

If you're doing not have a doctor and you are concerned that you simply or your child may have COVID-19, contact your local board of health. they will direct you to the simplest place for evaluation and treatment in your area.

It's best to not seek medical aid in an emergency department unless you've got symptoms of severe illness. Severe symptoms include high or very low blood heat, shortness of breath, confusion, or feeling you would possibly pass out. Call the emergency department before time to let the staff know that you simply are coming, in order that they are often prepared for your arrival.

How do I do know if I even have COVID-19 or the regular flu?

COVID-19 often causes symptoms almost like those an individual with a nasty cold or the flu would experience. And just like the flu, the symptoms can progress and become life-threatening. Your doctor is more likely to suspect coronavirus if:

• you have respiratory symptoms
• and
• you recently traveled to countries with ongoing community spread of the COVID-19 virus, including China, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea, or
• you have been exposed to someone suspected of getting COVID-19, or
• there has been community spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 in your area

How is someone tested for COVID-19?

A specialized test must be done to verify that an individual has been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Most testing within the US has been performed at the CDC. The CDC has now approved states to try to test. While this suggests that a wider group of individuals is going to be tested, testing remains limited and still requires a doctor's order.

How soon after I'm infected with the new coronavirus will I start to be contagious?

The time from exposure to symptom onset (known because the incubation period) is assumed to be 14 days, though symptoms typically appear within four or five days after exposure. we do not know the extent to which individuals who aren't yet experiencing symptoms can infect others, but it's possible that folks could also be contagious for several days before they become symptomatic.

For how long after I'm infected will I still be contagious? At what point in my illness will I be most contagious?

People are thought to be most contagious early within the course of their illness, once they are starting to experience symptoms. Researchers have detected viral genetic material in patients several weeks after they've recovered from COVID-19. Though the importance of those findings isn't fully understood, it suggests the likelihood that folks may still be contagious for weeks after they're feeling better.

If I buy sick with COVID-19, how long until I will be able to feel better?

It depends on how sick you get. Those with mild cases appear to recover within one to 2 weeks. With severe cases, recovery can take six weeks or more. consistent with the foremost recent estimates, about 1% of infected persons will succumb to the disease.

How long after I start to feel better are going to be it's safe on behalf of me to travel back call at public again?

We don't know surely. supported research that has detected viral genetic material in patients several weeks after they've recovered from COVID-19, it's safest to assume that you simply could also be contagious for weeks after you recover.

What's the difference between self-isolation and self-quarantine, and who should consider them?

Self-isolation is voluntary isolation reception by those that have or are likely to possess COVID-19 and are experiencing mild symptoms of the disease (in contrast to those that are severely ill and should be isolated during a hospital). the aim of self-isolation is to stop the spread of infection from an infected person to others who aren't infected. If possible, the choice to isolate should be supported by physician recommendation. If you've got tested positive for COVID-19, you ought to self-isolate.

You should strongly consider self-isolation if you:

• have been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting test results
• have been exposed to the new coronavirus and are experiencing symptoms according to COVID-19 (fever, cough, difficulty breathing), whether or not you've got been tested.

You may also consider self-isolation if you've got symptoms according to COVID-19 (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) but haven't had known exposure to the new coronavirus and haven't been tested for the virus that causes COVID-19. during this case, it's going to be reasonable to isolate yourself until your symptoms fully resolve, or until you're ready to be tested for COVID-19 and your test comes back negative.

Self-quarantine is voluntary quarantine reception by those that may are exposed to the COVID-19 virus but aren't experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 (fever, cough, difficulty breathing). the aim of self-quarantine (as with self-isolation) is to stop the possible spread of COVID-19. We are still awaiting consistent public health guidance on the question of who should self-quarantine. When possible, the choice to quarantine should be supported by physician recommendation. Self-quarantine is cheap if you're not experiencing symptoms, but are exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

What does it really mean to self-isolate or self-quarantine? What should or shouldn't I do?

If you're sick with COVID-19 or think you'll be infected with the COVID-19 virus, it's important to not spread the infection to others while you recover. While home-isolation or home-quarantine may sound sort of a staycation, you ought to be prepared for an extended period during which you would possibly feel disconnected from others and anxious about your health and therefore the health of your loved ones. Staying in-tuned with others by phone or online are often helpful to take care of social connections, invite help, and update others on your condition.

Here's what the CDC recommends to attenuate the danger of spreading the infection to others in your home and community.

Stay home except to urge medical aid 

• Do not attend work, school, or public areas.
• Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

Call ahead before visiting your doctor

• Call your doctor and tell them that you simply have or may have COVID-19. this may help the healthcare provider's office to require steps to stay people from getting infected or exposed.

Separate yourself from people and animals in your home

• As much as possible, stay during a specific room and far away from people in your home. Use a separate bathroom, if available.
• Restrict contact with pets and other animals while you're sick with COVID-19, a bit like you'd around people. When possible, have another member of your household look after your animals while you're sick. If you want to look after your pet or be around animals while you're sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a mask.

Wear a mask if you're sick

• Wear a mask once you are around people or pets and before you enter a doctor's office or hospital.

Cover your coughs and sneezes

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue once you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues during a lined ashcan.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds after you sneeze. If soap and water aren't available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains a minimum of 60% alcohol.

Clean your hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; getting to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
• If soap and water aren't readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Don't share personal home items 

• Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with people or pets in your home.
• After using these things, they ought to be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

Clean all "high-touch" surfaces a day 

High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.

Clean and disinfect areas that will have any bodily fluids on them.

• A list of products suitable to be used against COVID-19 is out there here. This list has been pre-approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be used during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Monitor your symptoms

• Monitor yourself for fever by taking your temperature twice each day and remain alert for a cough or difficulty breathing.
• If you've got not had symptoms and you start to feel feverish or develop measured fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, immediately limit contact with others if you've got not already done so. Call your doctor or local health department to work out whether you would like a medical evaluation.
• Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening, for instance, if you've got difficulty breathing. Before getting to a doctor's office or hospital, call your doctor and tell them that you simply have, or are being evaluated for, COVID-19.
• Put on a mask before you enter a medical building or any time you'll inherit contact with others.
• If you've got a medical emergency and wish to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that you simply have or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If possible, placed on a mask before emergency medical services arrive.

When am I able to discontinue my self-isolation or self-quarantine?

While many experts are recommending a minimum of 14 days of self-isolation for those that are infected, the choice to discontinue these measures should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation together with your doctor and state and native health departments. the choice is going to be supported by the danger of infecting others.

Is there an antiviral treatment for COVID-19?

Currently, there's no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19.

What treatments are available to treat coronavirus?

Currently, there's no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19. However, almost like treatment of any virus infection, these measures can help:

• While you do not get to stay in bed, you ought to get much rest.
• Stay well hydrated.
• Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen to scale back fever and ease aches and pains. make certain to follow directions. If you're taking any combination cold or flu medicine, keep track of all the ingredients and therefore the doses. For acetaminophen, the entire daily dose from all products shouldn't exceed 3,000 milligrams.

Can I infect my pet?

There haven't been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, but the CDC still recommends that folks sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is understood. If you want to look after your pet or be around animals while you're sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a mask.