What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus COVID-19
The most common symptoms of coronavirus COVID-19 are fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath. If you are seriously ill with COVID-19 symptoms and have a medical emergency, call 911. Notify the dispatch personnel that you have COVID-19 symptoms and advise them of any exposure history. If possible, put on a facemask before emergency medical services arrive or immediately after they arrive.
If you have mild to moderate symptoms, you should discuss your illness your healthcare provider. If you have any of the conditions that may increase your risk for a serious viral infection such as being 60 years of age or older, are pregnant, or have medical conditions—call your physician’s office and ask if you need to be evaluated in person. They may want to monitor your health more closely or test you for COVID-19 or influenza. If you need medical care, be sure to call your healthcare provider BEFORE arriving and tell them that you have symptoms that could be from COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.
If you do not have a high-risk condition and your symptoms are mild, you may not need to be evaluated in person and may not need to be tested for COVID-19. There are currently no medications to treat COVID-19. If you have fever, cough or shortness of breath and have not been around anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID19 and don’t need immediate medical care, you should stay home away from others until 72 hours after the fever is gone and symptoms get better, whichever happens last.
Information about testing for coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19
Although testing is starting to become more widely available, not everyone should be tested. Testing is not indicated for people who do not have symptoms, even if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Most people who are mildly or moderately ill with “cold-like” symptoms do not need to be tested. Most people with COVID-19 can safely recover at home with self-isolation and symptomatic treatment, and diagnosis through laboratory testing does not change the care they would receive.
Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 and should always consult their healthcare provider if sick. You should discuss your illness with your healthcare provider, and they will determine if you need to be evaluated and if testing is indicated for you. If you don’t need medical care and have not been around anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, you should stay home away from others until 72 hours after the fever is gone and symptoms get better.
What to do if you have been exposed to someone with coronavirus COVID-19
If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should monitor your health for fever, cough and shortness of breath during the 14 days after the last day you were in close contact with the 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 and you are 60 years old or older, pregnant, or have other medical conditions, you may be at increased risk of serious infection and should notify your physician’s office that you were exposed to COVID-19. Do not go to the office unless advised to do so, as they may want to monitor your health more closely, but have you stay at home.
If you get sick with fever, cough or shortness of breath and you don’t need medical care, you should stay at home and away from other people for 72 hours after fever is gone and other symptoms have improved, whichever is longer. Notify people who have been in close contact with you so they can also monitor themselves for illness.
What to do if you tested positive for COVID-19 or suspect you have the disease
If you have tested positive for COVID-19 you should remain under home isolation precautions for 7 days from the date of your positive COVID-19 lab test, or until 72 hours after your fever is gone and your symptoms have gotten better, whichever is longer.
If you are suspected of having COVID-19 infection, you should remain under home isolation precautions until 72 hours after your fever is gone and your symptoms have gotten better, whichever is longer. Please see the Georgia Department of Public Health’s website for more information on what you can do to help prevent others from getting exposed.
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