COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus)
COVID-19, also known as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 20, 2020. Since that time, it has impacted nearly every country and led to more than 7 million deaths. While there are now vaccines that reduce the severity of infection, preventing hospitalizations and deaths, there is still a role for all of us in reducing the spread of infection.
Protect yourself and others
- Get vaccinated when you can.
- Screen yourself daily for respiratory symptoms.
- Stay home if you're sick; encourage other people to do the same.
- Wear a well fitted face mask in crowded place and around vulnerable people.
- Cough into your sleeve or your elbow.
- Wash or sanitize your hands regularly.
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces and shared spaces more often and when visibly dirty.
Symptoms of COVID-19
Many of COVID-19 symptoms are similar to those of other respiratory viruses. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- fever or chills
- cough
- difficulty breathing
- loss of taste or smell
- runny nose
- sore throat
- headache
- extreme tiredness
- nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Do you have these symptoms? Take Ontario’s self-assessment to learn what to do next. If your symptoms are severe or worsening please see a Healthcare Provider.
Stay Home If You Are Sick
If you are sick with respiratory symptoms, it may be COVID-19 or another respiratory virus. Please stay home (self-isolate) to prevent the spread of infection.
You should stay home until all of the following apply to you:
- your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you had nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea)
- you do not have a fever
- you are not developing any additional symptoms
When your symptoms are improving and you are no longer isolating at home, please do the following for 10 days from the first day of symptoms:
- wear a mask in all public settings
- avoid non-essential activities where you need to take off your mask (for example, dining out)
- avoid non-essential visits to anyone who is immunocompromised or may be at higher risk of illness (for example, seniors)
- avoid non-essential visits to highest risk settings in the community such as hospitals and long-term care homes
Testing
There are two types of tests – Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. Some groups are at higher risk of a severe COVID-19 infection. IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS and belong to one of the following groups, you may be eligible for a test (PCR or RAT) to confirm whether you have COVID-19 or not:
- people aged 65 years of age and older
- people aged 18 years of age and older who have at least one condition that puts them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease
- people with compromised immune systems
- residents and patients in certain high-risk settings including hospitals and congregate living settings with medically and socially vulnerable individuals (for example, in long-term care and other specific populations and settings)
- people in the context of suspected or confirmed outbreaks, as directed by the local public health unit
If you are not eligible for treatment, testing to confirm COVID-19 infection is not required or recommended. If you are eligible and develop symptoms please seek out testing from a healthcare provider.
Please note, the Middlesex-London Health Unit does not provide free COVID-19 tests. If you are eligible for testing and treatment, see your health care provider. If you have the symptoms of COVID-19 stay home until your symptoms are improving and you are fever-free.
COVID-19 Treatment
Antiviral treatments for COVID-19 can prevent serious illness if taken within the first few days of symptoms starting. The most common antiviral is called Paxlovid and it is taken by mouth at home within five days of the start of symptoms. Antiviral treatments are only used to prevent serious outcomes and will not make you feel better faster.
A physician, nurse practitioner or participating pharmacist may prescribe antiviral treatment if you:
- have symptoms and test positive for COVID-19 (positive PCR or rapid antigen test).
- are at increased risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 because you are either:
- 65 years of age or older (regardless of vaccine status and any other risk factors)
- immunocompromised (regardless of vaccine status or prior COVID-19 infections)
- at increased risk due to other medical conditions or risk factors, for example diabetes treated with insulin, severe or end stage lung condition, rare blood or genetic disorder or severe intellectual or developmental disability