What Should You Do If You Think You Caught the Coronavirus? Follow This Chart.

The CDC has guidelines that you should follow. We'll break them down here.

What to do if you think you have COVID-19, aka the coronavirus disease, and haven’t done anything yet.

 

“I’m not feeling well and I have symptoms associated with COVID-19: fever, cough, or respiratory issues such as shortness of breath.”

In the past 14 days have you returned from a country with COVID-19 travel restrictions in place by the CDC?

Currently China, South Korea, Italy,

Iran, and Japan.

Nope

Yes

Have you had “close contact?”

The CDC says this is “being within approximately 6 feet … for a prolonged period of time” — with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 within 14 days of their symptoms appearing (this includes health care workers).

Quarantine yourself.

The CDC actually calls this “home isolation,” but it means you need to stay in your home unless you’re receiving medical care. Here’s a list of things you need to do.

Yes

Nope or

Call your health care provider and let them know that you suspect it could be COVID-19.

Follow their instructions

(they’ll be following the CDC’s instructions about how to evaluate possible coronavirus patients) about how to approach working or where to go — and wear a face mask.

Do you have what

the CDC considers

an increased risk of complications?

Such as being immunocompromised; being older than 65; having chronic heart, lung, or kidney conditions; or if you’re pregnant.

Yes

Nope

Follow your health care provider’s instructions.

Including about how to self-isolate. If you have COVID-19, they’ll notify the Health Department and the CDC. Stay in touch with your provider — they will evaluate your condition and let you know when you can safely return to normal activities. Per the CDC, the decision to discontinue home isolation is made on a case-by-case basis. Monitor your symptoms, and if they become severe, seek emergency care.

If you discover you came into close contact with someone with the coronavirus or if you get severe symptoms, contact your health care provider.

Be vigilant and track

your symptoms.

If you experience severe symptoms or discover you were in contact with someone who may have been exposed via travel or exposed to others, call your health care provider.

Practice good hygiene — wash your hands, don’t

touch your face. Here’s

more on that..

What to do if you think you have COVID-19, aka the coronavirus disease, and haven’t done anything yet.

 

“I’m not feeling well and I have symptoms associated with COVID-19: fever, cough, or respiratory issues such as shortness of breath.”

In the past 14 days have you returned from a country with COVID-19 travel restrictions in place by the CDC?

Currently China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, and Japan.

Yes

Nope

Have you had

close contact?”

The CDC says this is “being within approximately 6 feet … for a prolonged period of time” — with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 within 14 days of their symptoms appearing (this includes health care workers).

Yes

Nope

or

Do you have what

the CDC considers

an increased risk of complications?

Such as being immunocompromised; being older than 65; having chronic heart, lung, or kidney conditions; or if you’re pregnant.

Yes

Nope

If you discover you came into close contact with someone with the coronavirus or if you get severe symptoms, contact your health care provider.

Be vigilant and track your symptoms.

If you experience severe symptoms or discover you were in contact with someone who may have been exposed via travel or exposed to others, call your health care provider. Practice good hygiene — wash your hands, don’t touch your face. Here’s more on that.

Quarantine yourself.

The CDC actually calls this “home isolation,” but it means you need to stay in your home unless you’re receiving medical care. Here’s list of things you need to do.

Call your health care provider and let them know that you suspect it could be COVID-19.

Follow their instructions

(they’ll be following the CDC’s instructions about how to evaluate possible coronavirus patients) about how to approach working or where to go — and wear a face mask.

Follow your health care

provider’s instructions.

Including about how to self-isolate. If you have COVID-19, they’ll notify the Health Department and the CDC. Stay in touch with your provider — they will evaluate your condition and let you know when you can safely return to normal activities. Per the CDC, the decision to discontinue home isolation is made on a case-by-case basis. Monitor your symptoms, and if they become severe, seek emergency care.

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