COVID-19: Stop the Spread - Symptoms and Treatment
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Symptoms of COVID-19, which is the disease caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus, range
from mild — like the u and other common respiratory infections — to severe.
The most common symptoms of
COVID-19 include:
• fever (feeling hot to the touch, a temperature of
37.8 degrees Celsius or higher)
• chills
• cough that's new or worsening (continuous,
more than usual)
• barking cough, making a whistling noise when
breathing (croup)
• shortness of breath (out of breath, unable to
breathe deeply)
• sore throat
• difculty swallowing
• runny, stuffy or congested nose (not related to
seasonal allergies or other known causes or
conditions)
• lost sense of taste or smell
• pink eye (conjunctivitis)
• headache that’s unusual or long lasting
• digestive issues (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea,
stomach pain)
• muscle aches
• extreme tiredness that is unusual (fatigue, lack
of energy)
• falling down often
Call 911 if you are experiencing any
of the following symptoms:
• severe difculty breathing (struggling for each
breath, can only speak in single words)
• severe chest pain (constant tightness or
crushing sensation)
• feeling confused or unsure of where you are
• losing consciousness
Complications from COVID-19 can include
serious conditions, like pneumonia or kidney
failure and, in some cases, death.
There is no specic treatment for COVID-19,
and there is no vaccine that protects against
the coronavirus that causes it. The majority
of COVID-19 cases are mild and most
people who get it will recover on their own.
Typical treatment for common coronaviruses
includes:
• drinking plenty of uids
• getting as much rest and sleep as possible
• using a humidier or taking a hot shower to help
with a sore throat or cough
If you start to feel symptoms of COVID-19, you should:
• go to a COVID-19 assessment centre to get tested
• stay home and self-isolate unless you are going to the assessment centre
• only call 911 if it is an emergency
Some groups are at higher risk of getting COVID-19. You may be in an at-risk group if you are 70 years old or older, are getting treatment that
compromises (weakens) your immune system (for example, chemotherapy, medication for transplants, corticosteroids, TNF inhibitors), have
a condition that compromises (weakens) your immune system (for example, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, other autoimmune disorder), have a
chronic (long-lasting) health condition (for example, diabetes, emphysema, asthma, heart condition), regularly go to a hospital or health care
setting for a treatment (for example, dialysis, surgery, cancer treatment).