Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a respiratory virus that causes fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Most people will have a mild disease but some cases may become severe.
You would generally need to be in close contact with a sick person to become infected. “Close contact” includes: Living in the same house as a person sick with COVID-19, caring for a sick person with COVID-19, being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 10 minutes, or being in direct contact with a sick person with COVID-19 (being coughed on, kissed, sharing utensils, etc”. If you have NOT had these exposures you would be considered “low risk”.
If you are “low risk”, you can continue to go to work and school, but should monitor your health for 14 days and stay away from others if you become sick.
If you HAVE had close contact as defined above, you should monitor your health for 14 days after the last day you were in close contact with a sick person with COVID-19. You should not go to work or school, and should avoid public places for 14 days.
If you get sick with fever, cough or shortness of breath, you should stay at home and away from other people. If you have risk factors such as over 60-years-of age, are pregnant, or have other medical conditions, call and tell your doctor’s office.
If you do not have high risk conditions, but want medical advice, you can call your healthcare provider and discuss your symptoms and exposure, especially if you have a high fever, feel short of breath, or can’t eat or drink.
Tomorrow: Do masks do any good?
Home quarantine:
Healthfacts.blog 