Self-Care Instructions for patients with Possible COVID-19

General Information

  • COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus that spreads from person to person.
  • The virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, talking or laughing. Droplets not blocked by masks typically do not travel more than 6 feet. Masks are meant to decrease the chance of you spreading the virus to others.
  • COVID-19 is usually a self-limited illness with most people experiencing mild to moderate respiratory illness without requiring special treatment.
  • Self-limited infections are ones that can be treated at home and will resolve on their own without seeing a medical provider.
  • While most patients have mild to moderate symptoms, some can develop serious illness that requires hospitalization. This may develop after a week of illness.

 Symptoms: (Mild to moderate disease)

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
  • Chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain
  • New loss of taste or smell

Self-care measures:

  • Rest.
  • Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids.
  • Take Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) 650 mg every 6 hours and/or Ibuprofen (Advil®) 600 mg every 6-8 hours as needed to reduce fever, aches or other pains.
  • Treat any bothersome symptoms with over-the-counter medication.

Limit spread to others:

When to seek care from a medical provider:

  • If you are at high risk for complications (chronic lung disease to include chronic asthma on daily medication, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, immunocompromised)
  • Fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit that lasts for more than 3 days
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain/pressure in your chest
  • Confusion or disorientation
  • For symptoms that last over 10 days and get worse instead of better

Call ahead before seeing a medical provider.

  • We do not recommend seeking care at any local urgent care facility if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are getting worse.
  • If you feel well enough and need to see a medical provider at the UHC, call 540-568-6178 and speak to a nurse first.
  • If you are going to the Emergency Department, call ahead, especially if you have already been diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • If you call 911 related to a COVID-19 illness, be sure to give the emergency operator that information.

CDC Links to more information:


 
This information is subject to change. We will update this website as the situation evolves.

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