The following is provided for your information. None of this is meant to replace what your doctor may have told you. It is all taken from the CDC web site

What to do if you are sick with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

What to Do if You Are Sick (CDC Website) - here

What to Do if You Are Sick (earlier version from CDC website) - here

Stay home except to get medical care

  • Stay home: people who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to recover at home. Do not leave, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas
  • Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you feel worse or you think it is an emergency
  • Avoid public transportation: avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis

Separate yourself from other people in your home, this is known as home isolation

  • Stay away from others: as much as possible, you should stay in a specific “sick room” and away from other people in your home. Use a separate bathroom, if available
  • Limit contact with pets & animals: you should restrict contact with pets and other animals, just like you would around other people
  • Visitors are not allowed

Wear a facemask if you are sick

  • If you are sick: you should wear a facemask when you are around other people and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office
  • If you are caring for others: it is most important the person who is sick should wear a mask. Caregivers should wear a mask and gloves if possible or at least not touch anything in common and hand wash / sanitize afterwards

Call ahead before visiting your doctor

  • Call ahead: if you have a medical appointment, call your doctor’s office or emergency department, and tell them you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the office protect themselves and other patients

Cover your coughs and sneezes

  • Cover: cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
  • Dispose: throw used tissues in a lined trash can
  • Wash hands: immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol

Clean your hands often

  • Wash hands: wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food
  • Hand sanitizer: if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry
  • Soap and water: soap and water are the best option, especially if hands are visibly dirty
  • Avoid touching: avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

Avoid sharing personal household items

  • Do not share: do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people in your home
  • Wash thoroughly after use: after using these items, wash them thoroughly with soap and water or put in the dishwasher

Clean all “high-touch” surfaces everyday

  • Clean and disinfect: routinely clean high-touch surfaces in your “sick room” and bathroom. Let someone else clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas, but not your bedroom and bathroom.
  • If a caregiver or other person needs to clean and disinfect a sick person’s bedroom or bathroom, they should do so on an as-needed basis. The caregiver/other person should wear a mask and wait as long as possible after the sick person has used the bathroom
  • High-touch surfaces include phones, remote controls, counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables
  • Household cleaners and disinfectants: clean the area or item with soap and water or another detergent if it is dirty. Then, use a household disinfectant

Monitor your symptoms

  • Seek medical attention, but call first: seek medical care right away if your illness is worsening (for example, if you have difficulty breathing)
  • Call your doctor before going in: before going to the doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them your symptoms. They will tell you what to do
  • Wear a facemask: if possible, put on a facemask before you enter the building. If you can’t put on a facemask, try to keep a safe distance from other people (at least 6 feet away)
  • Follow care instructions from your healthcare provider and local health department: your local health authorities will give instructions on checking your symptoms and reporting information

COVID-19 Red Flags – Seek Medical Attention Immediately

  • Severe shortness of breath at rest
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Pain or pressure in the chest
  • Cold, clammy or pale and mottled skin
  • New confusion
  • Becoming difficult to arouse
  • Blue lips or face
  • Little or no urine output
  • Neck stiffness
  • Non-blanching rash