When should I seek emergency care if I have COVID-19?

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately: Trouble breathing. Persistent pain or pressure in the chest.

Should I go to the hospital if I have mild COVID-19 symptoms?

Mild COVID-19 cases still can make you feel lousy. But you should be able to rest at home and recover fully without a trip to the hospital.

How do I know that my COVID-19 infection starts to cause pneumonia?

If your COVID-19 infection starts to cause pneumonia, you may notice things like:

Rapid heartbeat

Shortness of breath or breathlessness

Rapid breathing

Dizziness

Heavy sweating

Do patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 need to be admitted to the hospital?

Not all patients with COVID-19 require hospital admission. Patients whose clinical presentation warrants in-patient clinical management for supportive medical care should be admitted to the hospital under appropriate Transmission-Based Precautions.

Some patients with initial mild clinical presentation may worsen in the second week of illness. The decision to monitor these patients in the inpatient or outpatient setting should be made on a case-by-case basis. This decision will depend not only on the clinical presentation, but also on the patient’s ability to engage in self-monitoring, the feasibility of safe isolation at home, and the risk of transmission in the patient’s home environment.

How long do COVID-19 symptoms last?

Acute COVID-19. Active illness can last one to two weeks if you have mild or moderate coronavirus disease, but severe cases can last months. Some people are asymptomatic, meaning they never have symptoms but do have COVID-19.

Work: What's Next - Sick days and no access to COVID-19 testing

Can COVID-19 symptoms come and go?

Yes. During the recovery process, people with COVID-19 might experience recurring symptoms alternating with periods of feeling better. Varying degrees of fever, fatigue and breathing problems can occur, on and off, for days or even weeks.

Can I recover at home if I have symptoms of COVID-19?

If you have a fever, cough, or other symptoms, you might have COVID-19. Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home. If you are sick:

• Keep track of your symptoms.
• If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), call 911.

What to do if I am diagnosed with COVID-19?

As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. If you need to be around other people or animals in or outside of the home, wear a mask.

Tell your close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person has any symptoms or tests positive. By letting your close contacts know they may have been exposed to COVID-19, you are helping to protect everyone.

• Additional guidance is available for those living in close quarters and shared housing.
• See COVID-19 and Animals if you have questions about pets.
• If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, someone from the health department may call you. Answer the call to slow the spread.

What should I do if I've been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 if my vaccine is not up-to-date?

Stay home and quarantine for at least 5 full days. Wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others in your home. Do not travel. Even if you don't develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.

What should I do if I tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms?

If you experience COVID-like symptoms, you should isolate from others for 5 full days after the start of your symptoms, wear a well-fitting mask, be clinically evaluated for COVID-19, and get tested. Tell your health care provider if you are up to date with your vaccines for COVID-19.

What does COVID-19 pneumonia cause?

The pneumonia that COVID-19 causes tends to take hold in both lungs. Air sacs in the lungs fill with fluid, limiting their ability to take in oxygen and causing shortness of breath, cough and other symptoms.

Can you get pneumonia from COVID-19?

Most people who get COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms like coughing, a fever, and shortness of breath. But some who catch the new coronavirus get severe pneumonia in both lungs. COVID-19 pneumonia is a serious illness that can be deadly.

How many people with COVID-19 will get pneumonia?

About 15% of COVID-19 cases are severe. That means they may need to be treated with oxygen in a hospital. About 5% of people have critical infections and need a ventilator.

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What is the treatment for mild COVID-19?

Treatment for COVID-19 depends on the severity of the infection. For milder illness, resting at home and taking medicine to reduce fever is often sufficient. Antiviral pills such as Paxlovid or molnupiravir may be prescribed by a doctor if a patient is eligible.

What are some examples of mild illness of the coronavirus disease?

Mild Illness: Individuals who have any of the various signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste and smell) but who do not have shortness of breath, dyspnea, or abnormal chest imaging.

What medication should I take for mild COVID-19 symptoms?

If you are worried about your symptoms, the Coronavirus Self-Checker can assist in the decision to seek care. You can treat symptoms with over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), to help you feel better. Learn more about what to do if you are sick.

What is the definition of close contact exposure for COVID-19?

Close Contact through proximity and duration of exposure: Someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes).

Do I need to isolate if I have symptoms but I have been vaccinated for COVID-19?

People who are confirmed to have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 need to isolate regardless of their vaccination status. This includes: People who have a positive viral test for COVID-19, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.

What are the guidelines for people who test positive for COVID-19?

Stay home, except to get needed medical care. Stay home from work and school, and avoid other public places including the store. If you must go out, avoid public transportation or ridesharing/taxis. Stay far away (6 feet or more) from other people. Wear a mask at all times and wash or sanitize your hands often.

How long are you contagious after being sick with COVID-19?

Most people with COVID-19 are no longer contagious 5 days after they first have symptoms and have been fever-free for at least three days.

Can I stay at home if I have the coronavirus disease?

Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.

When do symptoms of the coronavirus disease typically start?

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

Can COVID-19 symptoms get worse as it goes along?

COVID-19 can cause symptoms that are mild at first, but then become more intense over five to seven days, with worsening cough and shortness of breath.

What are some of the most common presenting symptoms of COVID-19?

Initial presentation — Among patients with symptomatic COVID-19, cough, myalgias, and headache are the most commonly reported symptoms. Other features, including diarrhea, sore throat, and smell or taste abnormalities, are also well described (table 3).

Can COVID-19 damage organs?

COVID-19 can cause lasting damage to multiple organs, including the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver and brain. SARS CoV-2 first affects the lungs through the nasal passages. When the lungs are severely affected, it can affect the heart.