Symptoms
Look for a cough that may or may not produce mucus. While COVID-19 is a respiratory infection, it doesn’t cause the same symptoms as other respiratory infections like the common cold or the flu. Coughing is a common symptom, which may or may not bring up phlegm. Call your doctor if you have a cough and think you might have COVID-19. You're more likely to have COVID-19 if there is community spread in your area, you've come into contact with someone who may be infected, or you've recently traveled somewhere with high rates of community transmission. If you’re coughing, cover your mouth with a tissue or your sleeve so others won’t get infected. You may also wear a surgical mask to trap droplets that might infect others. While you’re sick, stay away from people who are in high-risk groups for infection and complications, such as people who are 65 and older, babies, children, pregnant women, and people who are taking medication to suppress their immune system.
Take your temperature to see if you have a fever. COVID-19 typically causes a fever. Use a thermometer to check your temperature to see if it’s 100.4 °F (38.0 °C) or higher, which means you have a fever. If you develop a fever, be sure to call your doctor before you go to any healthcare facility. Stay home aside from getting medical care. When you have a fever, you’re likely contagious with whatever illness you have. Protect others by staying home. Keep in mind that a fever is a symptom of a lot of illnesses, so it doesn’t necessarily mean you have COVID-19.
Get emergency medical care if you have difficulty breathing. Since breathing issues are always a serious symptom, visit your doctor, an urgent care center, or the emergency room immediately to get the treatment you need. You may have a serious illness, whether or not it's COVID-19. Shortness of breath is also a common, less severe symptom that you should tell your doctor about. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this strain of coronavirus can lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia. Contact your doctor immediately if you’re having any breathing issues just to be safe.Warning: People with weakened immune systems or pre-existing medical conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, are especially vulnerable to potentially deadly COVID-19 infections. Babies and elderly people are also at risk of developing complications, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. If you or someone you care for are at risk, take special care to avoid exposure to infected people or animals.
Look out for less common symptoms of COVID-19. While fever, coughing, and a feeling of tiredness are the most common symptoms, some people experience other things as well. A sore throat, headache, loss of taste or smell, aches and pains, diarrhea, conjunctivitis (pink eye), skin rash, or discoloration of your toes and fingers could indicate that you have COVID-19. Chills, runny nose, congestion, and vomiting are also symptoms of the virus. It’s understandable that you’d be worried, but try to remember that it’s unlikely that you have COVID-19 if you don't have a fever, cough, and shortness of breath.Tip: If you're young and in good health, you may have very mild COVID-19 symptoms. If you've recently traveled or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19, call your doctor if you have respiratory symptoms to find out if you need to get tested. In the meantime, stay home so you won't infect others.
Testing and Treatment
Call your doctor right away if you think you have COVID-19. Take your symptoms seriously if you think it’s possible you’re sick, as COVID-19 can become life-threatening. Call your doctor to find out if they think you need to be tested for coronavirus. Tell them about your symptoms and if you’ve recently traveled or may have come into contact with someone who may be sick. Follow your doctor’s advice to either come in for testing or stay home and monitor your symptoms. Let your doctor’s office staff know that you think you may have a COVID-19 infection before you arrive. That way, they can take precautions to prevent you from potentially spreading the disease to other patients. EXPERT TIP World Health Organization World Health Organization Global Public Health Agency The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Founded in 1948, the World Health Organization monitors public health risks, promotes health and well-being, and coordinates international public health cooperation and emergency response. The WHO is currently leading and coordinating the global effort supporting countries to prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. World Health Organization World Health Organization Global Public Health Agency Our Expert Agrees: National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent the spread of viruses and other infections.
Get tested for COVID-19 if your doctor recommends it. If your doctor thinks you may have COVID-19, they’ll likely want you to get tested. They might ask you to come into their office or direct you to a testing facility in your area. Your doctor or a public health expert will likely swab your nose or throat, then send the sample to a lab for testing. You can also check your city or county's website to find testing centers near you. Some drugstores offer COVID-19 testing, as well. Look at the testing center's website or call them to find out if you need to make an appointment, show proof of ID, or follow any other guidelines.
Quarantine yourself if you have symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. If you're not feeling well or suspect you have COVID-19, quarantine at home unless you have severe symptoms that require hospitalization. Ask your doctor for instructions on how to care for yourself and prevent the disease from spreading to others. Keep your doctor updated on your symptoms and their progression. They can recommend specific medications and advise if or when you need to go to the hospital for more advanced treatment.
Get emergency medical care if you have serious symptoms. While some cases of coronavirus are mild, COVID-19 can cause severe respiratory symptoms like difficulty breathing. These symptoms are always an emergency, even if not related to COVID-19. Go to an emergency room or call for help if you or someone you know has any of the following symptoms: Difficulty breathing or severe shortness of breath Bluish lips or face Pain or pressure in your chest Growing confusion or difficulty arousing
Go to the hospital for advanced treatment. There are some treatments specifically for COVID-19, but they are only available to hospitalized patients. Generally, you'll only be hospitalized with COVID-19 if you're immunocompromised or if your symptoms are severe. Advanced treatments for COVID-19, as of June 2021, include the following: Monoclonal antibodies (may also be given to non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients at a lower dose) to prevent the progression of COVID-19 Antiviral medication (Remdesivir) to slow the virus and keep it from spreading to other parts of your body Convalescent plasma (containing antibodies from recovered patients) can help your immune system respond more effectively to the virus. However, current guidelines find there is not enough evidence to recommend this treatment.
Self-Care
Stay home until your doctor says you're infection-free. Staying home will help prevent you from spreading the infection to others. Additionally, getting plenty of rest is vital for helping your body fight the infection and recover. While you’re infected, stay home from work or school and avoid strenuous activities around the house. Get as much sleep as you can. Ask your doctor for advice about when you can return to your regular activities. They may recommend waiting for up to 14 days or even longer after your symptoms have cleared up.Tip: If you share a home with someone, do your best to isolate yourself in a separate room of your home. If your home has more than 1 bathroom, use a separate bathroom from the rest of your household. This can help you protect your family or housemates from contracting the virus.
Take over-the-counter medications to manage pain and fevers. If you have symptoms such as body aches, headaches, or a fever, you can get relief with medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), or naproxen (Aleve). If you are over 18, you can also use aspirin as a pain reliever and fever reducer. Never give aspirin to children or teens under 18, since it can cause a potentially fatal condition called Reye’s Syndrome. Always follow the dosing instructions on the label or given to you by your doctor or pharmacist. Before taking any medication, let your doctor know if you are pregnant or nursing.Tip: You may have seen reports that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) can make COVID-19 worse. However, there's no medical evidence to back this up. If you have concerns about taking any medication, check with your doctor before you take it.
Use a humidifier to ease your cough. A humidifier can help soothe your throat, lungs, and nasal passages, which can ease coughing. Additionally, it helps thin out mucus so your coughs are more productive. Set one up by your bed at night and wherever you spend most of your time resting during the day. Taking a hot shower or sitting in the bathroom with the shower running can also bring relief and help loosen up mucus in your lungs and sinuses.
Drink plenty of fluids. It’s easy to get dehydrated when you’re sick. While you’re recovering from coronavirus, keep sipping on water, juice, or other clear fluids to fight dehydration and loosen up congestion. Warm liquids, such as broth, tea, or warm water with lemon, can be especially soothing if you have a cough or sore throat.
Isolate yourself until your doctor clears you to leave your home. It's extremely important that you stay home until you are no longer contagious so you don't spread the virus to others. Your doctor will tell you when it's okay for you to return to your normal activities. Check with your doctor before you go out, even if you feel like you're improving. Your doctor may test you again to see if you still have coronavirus. If tests aren't available, they may allow you to leave your home after you're not showing symptoms for at least 72 hours.
Prevention
Get vaccinated as soon as possible. In the US, vaccines are free and available to everyone 12 years of age and older. Many companies are offering various incentives for getting vaccinated, including free rides to a vaccine clinic location, free childcare, and free meals. In other countries, check with your government's healthcare bureau for more information on vaccine availability. As of June 2021, there are 3 vaccines generally available: the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The CDC has plenty of information available about each of these vaccines so you can choose the one that's best for you. Different vaccine locations offer different vaccines. If there's a specific one you want, you can search for a location that offers that vaccine—just be aware that you may have to travel a longer distance to get a specific vaccine.
Stay home as much as possible if you haven't been vaccinated. You've probably heard about "social distancing," which means limiting contact with other people. This can help prevent community spread of coronavirus. Only leave your home for necessities, like buying groceries or going to work. If possible, make arrangements to work or do your schoolwork at home until you can get the vaccination. If you have a social gathering with unvaccinated friends or family, limit your guest count to 10 or fewer people and continue to maintain a distance of 6 ft between you and other guests.
Wear a mask and maintain social distancing if you haven't been vaccinated. If you must go to the grocery store, run other errands, or otherwise leave your home, take steps to protect yourself and others. Put a snug-fitting face mask over your nose, mouth, and chin. Also, do your best to stay at least 6 feet (1.8 m) away from anyone who doesn't live in your household. If you've been fully vaccinated, on the other hand, you don't need to wear a mask or observe social distancing when out in public. The CDC does recommend that vaccinated people wear masks indoors in public in areas where transmission is substantial or high.
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. Hand-washing is the best way to prevent the spread of coronavirus and other diseases. Use soap and water frequently throughout the day to clean your hands, especially after touching surfaces in high-traffic areas (such as doorknobs in public bathrooms or handrails on trains and buses) or potentially infected people or animals. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, and be sure to clean between your fingers. To ensure you’re washing long enough, try singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice while you wash your hands. Use hand sanitizer if you are unable to use soap and water.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Respiratory viruses like those in the coronavirus family get into your body through the mucous membranes in your eyes, nose, and mouth. You can protect yourself by keeping your hands away from your face, especially if you haven’t washed them recently.
Clean and disinfect all objects and surfaces. For general disease prevention, clean high-touch surfaces daily to help limit the spread of illnesses. Use 1 cup (240 ml) of bleach mixed with 1 gallon (3.8 L) of warm water or a disinfectant wipe or spray to keep things clean. Make sure the surface stays wet for about 10 minutes for the disinfectant to work effectively. If someone in your household is sick, clean any dishes or utensils immediately with hot water and detergent. Additionally, clean any contaminated linens, such as sheets and pillowcases, in hot water.
Avoid contact with people who are ill. Coronavirus spreads from droplets produced by an infected person. You can easily breathe in these droplets after a sick person coughs. If you see that someone is coughing or they tell you they’ve been sick, kindly and respectfully move away from them. Additionally, try to avoid the following methods of transmission: Having close personal contact with an infected person, such as hugging, kissing, shaking hands, or being close to them for a long period of time (e.g., sitting next to them on a bus or plane) Sharing cups, utensils, or personal items with an infected person Touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching an infected person Having contact with infected fecal matter (for example, if you changed the diaper of an infected baby or toddler).
Cover your mouth whenever you cough and sneeze. People with coronavirus spread it by coughing and sneezing. If you have COVID-19, you can keep other people safe by using a tissue, handkerchief, or face mask to cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Throw away any used tissues immediately and then wash your hands in warm soap and water. If a coughing or sneezing fit catches you by surprise or you don’t have a tissue on hand, cover your nose and mouth with the crook of your elbow instead of your hand. This way, you’re less likely to spread the virus around when you touch things.
Practice good hygiene around animals. While animals seem unlikely to be able to spread coronavirus to humans, this is still a possibility and there are a few known cases of animals contracting the virus from humans. If you come into contact with animals of any kind, including pets, always wash your hands carefully. Always avoid contact with any animals that are obviously sick.
Follow normal food safety practices when preparing raw meat. As of June 2021, there is no evidence that people can get COVID-19 from touching or consuming food. However, you can still get other infections from contaminated or unsafely prepared food, particularly meat and animal products.
Pay attention to travel advisories if you plan to visit other countries. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, all non-essential travel is discouraged. If you’re planning to travel abroad, visit your country’s travel website to find out if coronavirus is active in the area you plan to visit. You can also check the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) for information. These websites can offer advice about how to protect yourself while you travel.
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