The global panic regarding the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic continues as more and more infected are reported each hour all around the world. China has declared that the virus is now airborne. So, now there is virtually no way to stop the virus from spreading even further. Quarantines and self-isolation policies are now in effect in almost every affected country.
So, if you think you have coronavirus, it’s important to know what to do next. Proper management in early stages can greatly reduce the risks of coronavirus infection protecting you and also the ones around you.
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What to do if you think you have COVID-19
Coronavirus spreads through respiratory droplets like sneeze, cough, spit, etc. The symptoms of coronavirus are high fever, dry cough and lastly, breathlessness and respiratory distress.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, here are the things you must do for the sake of your health and the health of others:
Contact health officials:
If you think you are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, contact your physician or public health authorities at once. There is usually a hotline number in your area for COVID-19 emergencies. Call the authorities and inform them about your condition, if anyone else around you has felt the same, whether you have been to a COVID-19 risk zone or have been in contact with anyone who may have been infected.
The policy in your area may be self-isolation or hospitalization based on the situation. Contacting your healthcare officials ensures you get the best professional attention and also limits the spread of infection.
Get yourself tested:
The next step is to get tested for COVID-19. It’s important to understand that the coronavirus crisis has left most health authorities in dire need of more test kits and better testing methods. So there is a worldwide shortage for coronavirus test kits in response to such a widespread outbreak.
So, authorities are prioritizing the testing of persons who have either been in contact with an infected person or have been in exposure to an area that is considered an infection risk zone. So it’s important to be patient and also prepare for the fact that you may be rejected for being tested right away.
Again, the result of the test takes several days. During this time it’s important to keep yourself isolate and avoid any public place and open crowds.
Stay Indoors:
Don’t go outside. A key measure to protect yourself and others is Self-isolation. Self-isolation is a system of keeping to yourself in your own home in an effort to reduce the spread of infection. It lasts for 15 days, which is the general incubation period for the virus.
During this time, stay in your room and limit access to family members. Use your own furniture and utensils and don’t share them with anyone. Use sanitizer frequently and disinfect your own space as much as possible.
After the 15 day period, if you find that your symptoms have reduced or have not progressed any further, you can consider yourself free from COVID-19 infection.
Bottom Line:
The coronavirus outbreak is getting worse every day. So, mass awareness and early action is the key to controlling it. If people who might be infected seek treatment and isolate themselves early on, it keeps the virus from spreading to healthy individuals. So we all have to play our part to help end this global crisis.
For more information about COVID-19, check out our article: What to Know About Coronavirus
To find out what you should do to prevent getting infected, check out: What to Do to Prevent Coronavirus?
