What Should I do if I feel sick during COVID-19

If you are experiencing symptoms common with COVID-19 like fever, difficulty breathing, or cough and you think you have contracted the coronavirus, you may need to get a PCR COVID test. However, here are a few recommendations and steps to take when you feel sick.

• Stay in your house and contact your healthcare provider

If you feel sick and your symptoms are COVID-like, ensure you stay home to avoid the risk of spreading the illness. Even when you have mild symptoms, do not go to school, work or public places. Try not to use public transportation even when you have an emergency that requires you to leave the house.

If the symptoms are severe, contact your health care provider first before you go to the health care centre and explain your symptoms. If it is an emergency medical care centre, describe your symptoms to the operator.

• Answer all question to determine your risk

When you contact your healthcare provider or a medical facility, they will ask you about your COVID-19 risk factors. Some COVID-19 risk factors include exposure to infected persons and recent trips to certain places.

Your health care provider may ask any of the following questions.

• Do you have chills, cough, fever, muscle or body aches, nausea or vomiting, headache, runny nose or congestion, diarrhoea, a new loss of smell or taste, new fatigue, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath?
• Have you recently had close contact with a COVID-19 patient?Close contact with an infected person means you were less than 2m away from the person for a long time or you were exposed to their sneeze or cough.
• Has any healthcare provider said you are at risk of contracting the coronavirus?

Follow the healthcare giver’s instructions

The answers to the question asked by the healthcare provider will guide them to give you instructions. Your healthcare giver will tell you if you need evaluation and what to do next. The healthcare provider may recommend any of the following based on your risk factors.

• Stay home and wait for further instructions
• Continue monitoring your symptoms and call again if you develop new symptoms like respiratory issues
• Visit the emergency room or go to the clinic if you have severe symptoms like high fever and intense shortness of breath
• Visit a designated medical centre for treatment and evaluation. Ensure you attend your appointment alone as bringing a friend or family member only puts them at risk

Practice good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene

The following should keep you and others safe.

• Wear a face mask if you leave home. This should prevent your sneeze and cough from infecting others
• Wash your hands thoroughly and often for 20 seconds, before and after you eat, when you use the bathroom, after coughing, blowing your nose and sneezing.
• While at home, clean frequently touched surfaces like tabletops, cabinet handles, doorknobs, tablets, phones, and bathroom hardware using a disinfectant.
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow crook. Do not use your hand.If you use a tissue, dispose of it immediately.

Stay calm

The thought of contracting the coronavirus may seem scary, but ensure you stay calm, and follow the health and safety guidelines. Medical experts are tirelessly working with both international and national bodies to find ways to improve care to infected patients and to curtail the spread of the coronavirus.

Ensure you get your private Covid test to determine whether or not you are infected and also adhere to the safety measures set by the government.

If you feel sick, contact STD Check Clinic on 020 37457523 to speak to a healthcare provider and arrange for your COVID-19 PCR swab test in London.