You can screen yourself for coronavirus if you believe you have some of the common symptoms, such as a fever, a dry cough, or shortness of breath.
Consider the following:
Have you been exposed to a large group of people in the last 72 hours without practicing social distancing? You should know it is possible to contract the coronavirus from people without them sneezing or coughing in your direction. The virus can spread through simple conversation and heavy breathing, like exertion from intense exercise.
Have you gathered with a small group of people in someone else’s home without social distancing? Some people could be virus carriers, be presymptomatic and infect others without anyone knowing it. This is why it is so important to keep your distance and limit the number of people you come into contact with. This ability of the virus to be transmitted by people without symptoms is a major cause for this pandemic.
Since you could be presymptomatic for at least 4-6 days and sometimes up to 14 days, it is crucial you self-quarantine for at least 6 days if you feel you’ve been exposed. Check for common symptoms as well, they usually get worse or persist beyond what seems typical. Unusually long lasting headaches, heavy dry coughing or elevated temperature are signs you should get tested as soon as possible. There are no at-home tests or remedies you can rely on.
Never, ever ingest cleaning chemicals like bleach or alcohol in any amounts. There is absolutely no evidence these chemicals can fight off the virus in the human body. In fact, they will have a counter effect on your body’s effort to fight the virus. This could result in body function failure and may lead to death.
Although medical providers can test some people in clinics or hospitals, many people with mild symptoms can recover from COVID-19 on their own at home.
If your symptoms remain mild you should:
* Rest. It can ease your symptoms and may help you recover faster. The virus impacts your lungs’ ability to provide oxygenated blood throughout your body. When you rest you lower the need for some body functions to receive this blood, which can relieve pressure on the lungs.
* Stay away from others. Don’t go to work, school, or public places. Try to keep yourself separate from other people in your home.
* Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration will make your symptoms worse.
* Ask your doctor about over-the-counter medicines that may ease your symptoms.
* If your symptoms get worse, call your doctor or a hospital.
If you have these serious symptoms of COVID-19, call your doctor or 911 immediately:
* Trouble breathing
* Pain or pressure in your chest
* Bluish lips or face
* Sudden confusion or “wooziness”
With many restrictions being lifted throughout our communities, it is very tempting to relax many preventative behaviors. It is important to remember that nothing has really changed since earlier in the spring. Testing with fast results is still a ways off and many experts state a vaccine is more than a year away from public availability. Therefore, continue to practice preventative measures like, social distancing, thorough hand washing, wearing a mask in public and staying home as much as possible.
