COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus called SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 can cause symptoms ranging from mild illness, like common cold symptom, to more serious illness like pneumonia (lung infection).

 

If you are identified as a close contact to someone with COVID-19, you may have been told this by your healthcare provider, your employer, your local health department or the person themselves. In general, close contact means being within 6 feet of a person for longer than 10 minutes. It is currently thought that close contacts of people who have COVID-19 are at highest risk of getting the virus than the general public. Some examples of close contact include:

 

• Living in the same household as a sick person 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
• Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 which could include being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.

 

If you have not been a close contact to someone with COVID-19 then you are likely to be at lower risk for infection. You should continue to practice social distancing as directed by the Department of Health. However, you should continue to monitor your health for symptoms. If you feel feverish or develop cough or difficulty breathing, you should limit contact with others and seek advice by telephone from a healthcare provider to determine whether medical evaluation is needed.

 

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms MAY include a runny nose, sore throat, or generally feeling unwell.

 

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 the person with COVID-19 lives in your home, do your best to separate yourself from them until they are taken off their home isolation instructions.

 

If, during this 14-day period, you get sick with fever, cough or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are very mild), you should stay at home and away from other people. If you feel you need additional medical evaluation or have any of the following conditions that may increase your risk for a serious infection —age 60 years or over, are pregnant, or have medical conditions—contact your physician’s office and tell them that you were exposed to someone with COVID-19. They may want to monitor your health more closely or test you for COVID-19. If you feel you need to see a healthcare provider, call ahead to the office and tell them you were a close contact to someone with COVID-19. If you experience a medical emergency and need to call an ambulance, dial 9-1-1 and alert dispatch that you are a close contact to a person with COVID-19 and are currently under quarantine.

 

If you’ve been tested but don’t have the results you should remain at home and separate yourself from others until you receive your results. This includes reducing or eliminating close contact with others in the house, not traveling or attending public gatherings, and not leaving home except to seek medical care. Practice good hand hygiene and clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (e.g. tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, sinks, phones)

 

If you test negative for COVID-19 but still have symptoms, it is likely you may have another respiratory virus. You should continue to follow similar guidance to isolate yourself from others, practice good hand hygiene and clean and disinfect surfaces in the home. You should not return to work or school until 72 hours after your fever has ended without the use of fever-reducing medications and your other symptoms have improved.

 

If you test positive for COVID-19, don’t panic. Many people who have COVID-19 have mild illness and can be managed at home without needing to be in the hospital or receive additional care. Your healthcare provider may contact you to ask additional questions. You may be contacted by your local health department to interview you about where you may have gone and who may have had close contact with you while you were ill. This information will be helpful to them in determining if others around you should be evaluated for COVID-19 and should seek care. After your diagnosis, you will be asked to isolate yourself at home until 7 days after your fever has ended without the use of fever-reducing medications and your symptoms have significantly improved. If you are in home isolation and your symptoms are worsening, contact your healthcare provider and seek advice. If you are under home isolation, experience a medical emergency, and need to call an ambulance, dial 9-1-1 and alert dispatch that you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently isolating at home.

 

If you aren’t tested but still have symptoms, it is possible you may have COVID-19 or another respiratory virus. You should continue to follow similar guidance to isolate yourself from others, practice good hand hygiene and clean and disinfect surfaces in the home. You should not return to work or school until 72 hours after your fever has ended without the use of fever-reducing medications and your other symptoms have improved. If you or your healthcare provider have a high suspicion of COVID-19, you may be advised to stay home and isolate for 7 days after your fever has ended without the use of fever-reducing medications, and your other symptoms have improved.