COVID-19 What To Do If You Are Sick
Most people who become ill with COVID-19 have symptoms that start with a fever and a dry cough. Most people will have mild illness and get better without needing any special care. It’s important to stay home if you’re sick – even if the illness is mild — because we must protect those in our community who are more vulnerable to severe illness.
If you are sick: stay home, cover your cough, wash hands and surfaces frequently, try to separate yourself from other members of your household to avoid infecting them. If you feel you need healthcare, please call your healthcare provider before going to the clinic or emergency room — they will give you special instructions and prepare for your arrival.
Getting Tested
- Due to a national shortage of testing materials, Minnesota Department of Health is prioritizing testing to hospitalized patients, health care workers, and people who live in congregate settings (e.g., nursing homes, long term care facilities).
- If you have symptoms you can manage at home and are not in one of these high-priority groups, you do not need to be tested. A positive test will not change MDH’s recommendations for your outpatient care.
Care For Mild Symptoms
- People who think or know that they have COVID-19, but who are not severely ill, should stay home for at least 7 days, and for 72 hours after their fever goes away (without taking fever-reducing medications) and their respiratory symptoms improve --whichever is longer.
- People with symptoms should isolate themselves from people in their household as much as possible.
- People who live in the same household as a person with symptoms who is not able to be tested should limit their activities in public for 14 days and should monitor for symptoms.
- People with underlying health conditions or who are older adults should contact their health care provider to see if they have additional recommendations for them.
Care For Severe Symptoms
- Patients should seek care if their symptoms become severe. They should call ahead to their health provider when possible.
Courtesy of Hennepin County.