COVID-19

COVID-19

Tested Positive for COVID-19 — Now What?

Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!

Staying hydrated helps your kidneys do their job of balancing electrolytes and filtering waste from your body. Drinking water can also help lessen congestion allowing mucus to be coughed out of the body.

Take a Baby Aspirin (81mg) once a day for three to four weeks.

Do not take if your doctor has told you otherwise or you have a history of bleeding.

When you’re sick and do not feel well, you do not move around as much, which increases your chance of making blood clots that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Take Your Vitamins!

Vitamin A, C, D and Zinc help boost the immune system and may help you recover quicker.

Zzzzzz……Belly Sleeping or Prone Positioning

The way you lay can affect how your lungs expand to take in oxygen and collapse to blow it out. This position is the best for air exchange and gives your body the needed oxygen to keep you from getting worse from this virus especially if you are coughing a lot or having some shortness of breath.

Over-the-Counter Cough Medicine

Mucinex DM and Robitussin DM are OTC medicine that may help if you are not allergic to, or have been told by your doctor not to take. These medications can help control your cough symptoms while loosening mucus. You can also take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and body aches unless previously directed not to.

Control the Spread

of this virus by placing yourself in quarantine. Tell those you have been around recently you are positive so they can protect themselves and their loved ones. Quarantine time, per the CDC guidelines, is a minimum of 5 days, yet could be longer if you are continuing to have symptoms. Your employer may request additional testing or extended time-off before returning to work.

Monoclonal Antibody Infusions.

Depending on your age, health history, and how long you have had symptoms of COVID-19, you may qualify for this treatment. Please contact your physician for further information and if you may be a candidate.

When to seek Emergency Medical Attention

Monitor for emergency warning signs and seek emergency medical care immediately for trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, and inability to wake or stay awake, or pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone. Call 9-1-1 or call ahead to your local emergency facility. Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has COVID-19. This is not all possible symptoms. Please call your doctor for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Additional information is readily available on the following websites or contacts your primary care provider.

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Johns Hopkins Medicine
  • American Medical Association (AMA)
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)

COVID-19 VACCINATION INFORMATION

Local Health Departments

IDPH Resources

CDC Resources

Covid-19 Resources