Self-Care Instructions for patients with Possible COVID-19

General Information

• COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus that spreads from person to person.
• The virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, talking or laughing. Droplets not blocked by masks typically do not travel more than 6 feet. Masks are meant to decrease the chance of you spreading the virus to others.
• COVID-19 is usually a self-limited illness with most people experiencing mild to moderate respiratory illness without requiring special treatment.
• Self-limited infections are ones that can be treated at home and will resolve on their own without seeing a medical provider.
• While most patients have mild to moderate symptoms, some can develop serious illness that requires hospitalization. This may develop after a week of illness.

 Symptoms: (Mild to moderate disease)

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain
• New loss of taste or smell

Self-care measures:

• Rest.
• Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids.
• Take Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) 650 mg every 6 hours and/or Ibuprofen (Advil®) 600 mg every 6-8 hours as needed to reduce fever, aches or other pains.
• Treat any bothersome symptoms with over-the-counter medication.

Limit spread to others:

• Isolate yourself as completely as possible.  
• Visit the University Health Center for additional information.

When to seek care from a medical provider:

• If you are at high risk for complications (chronic lung disease to include chronic asthma on daily medication, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, immunocompromised)
• Fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit that lasts for more than 3 days
• Shortness of breath
• Pain/pressure in your chest
• Confusion or disorientation
• For symptoms that last over 10 days and get worse instead of better

Call ahead before seeing a medical provider.

• We do not recommend seeking care at any local urgent care facility if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are getting worse.
• If you feel well enough and need to see a medical provider at the UHC, call 540-568-6178 and speak to a nurse first.
• If you are going to the Emergency Department, call ahead, especially if you have already been diagnosed with COVID-19.
• If you call 911 related to a COVID-19 illness, be sure to give the emergency operator that information.

CDC Links to more information:

• How to protect yourself and others: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
• What to do if you are sick: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

 This information is subject to change. We will update this website as the situation evolves.