Treating COVID-19 at home: Care tips for you and others
At-home treatment
Most individuals who become ill with COVID-19 are those who will experience only mild illness and can recover at home. Symptoms might last a few days, and people who have the virus may feel better in about a week. Treatment is directed toward the relief of symptoms, including rest, fluid intake, and pain medications.
Older adults and people of any age with certain underlying health conditions should call their doctor as soon as symptoms start. These individuals are at a higher risk of getting very sick with COVID-19.
Follow the doctor's recommendations for treatment and care of yourself or your loved one at home and about home isolation. Discuss any concerns about treatments with the doctor. Provide the sick person with bland foods that are easy to digest. Have groceries and medications delivered if possible and take care of the pet, if needed.
It's also important to think about how caring for a sick person might affect your health. If you are older or have an underlying health condition, such as heart or lung disease or diabetes, you may be at higher risk for serious illness with COVID-19. You may want to isolate yourself from the sick person and find another person to provide care.
Emergency warning signs
Monitor yourself or your loved one carefully for worsening of symptoms. If symptoms appear to worsen, call the doctor.
The doctor may advise you to have a pulse oximeter available if the person sick with symptoms of COVID-19 has risk factors for severe disease with COVID19. A pulse oximeter is a plastic device that attaches to your finger:.
It can help monitor breathing by measuring the percentage of oxygen in the blood. If less than 92%, the risk of being admitted to the hospital may increase. If the doctor orders a pulse oximeter, make sure to understand how to use it properly and under what circumstances a reading would necessitate contacting the physician. If you or the person with COVID-19 experiences any of the emergency warning signs below, you need to seek medical attention immediately. Call 911 or call your local emergency number if the sick person can't be woken up or you notice any emergency warning signs, including :
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent chest pain or pressure
- New confusion
- Bluish lips or face
- Inability to stay awake
- Pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips or nail beds — depending on skin tone
- Wear a face mask. If you need to be in the same room with the person who is ill and he or she isn't able to wear a face mask, wear a face mask. Stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from the ill person. Don't touch or handle your mask while you are using it. If your mask gets wet or dirty, replace it with a clean, dry mask. Throw away the used mask and wash your hands.
- Clean your home frequently. Every day, use household cleaning sprays or wipes to clean surfaces that are often touched, including counters, tabletops and doorknobs. Avoid cleaning the sick person's separate room and bathroom. Set aside bedding and utensils for the sick person only to use.
- Be careful with laundry. Don't shake dirty laundry. Use regular detergent to wash the sick person's laundry. Use the warmest setting you can. Wash your hands after putting clothes in the dryer. Thoroughly dry clothes. If you are handling clothing that has been soiled by the sick person, wear disposable gloves and keep the items away from your body. Wash your hands after removing the gloves. Place dirty gloves and masks in a waste bin with a lid in the sick person's room. Clean and disinfect clothes hampers and wash your hands afterward.
- Avoid direct contact with the sick person's bodily fluids. Wear disposable gloves and a face mask when providing oral and respiratory care and when handling stool, urine or other waste. Wash your hands before and after removing your gloves and mask. Don't reuse your mask or gloves.
- If you won't have a test to determine if you're still contagious, you can leave your sick room or home if at least 10 days have passed since your symptoms started, at least 24 hours have passed with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medicine and other symptoms are improving. Loss of taste and smell might last for weeks or months after recovery but shouldn't delay ending isolation.
- If you'll be tested to determine if you're still contagious, your doctor will let you know when you can be around others based on your test results. Most people don't need testing to decide when they can be around others.
As you or your loved one recover, seek emotional support. Stay connected to others through texts, phone calls or videoconferences. Share your concerns. Avoid too much COVID-19 news. Rest and focus on enjoyable activities, such as reading, watching movies or playing online games.
As you take care of a loved one who is ill with COVID-19, you might feel stressed too. You might worry about your health and the health of the sick person. This can affect your ability to eat, sleep and concentrate, as well as worsen chronic health problems. It may also increase your use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.
If you have a mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression, continue with your treatment. Contact your doctor or mental health professional if your condition worsens.
To care for yourself, follow these steps:
- Maintain a daily routine, including showering and getting dressed.
- Take breaks from COVID-19 news, including social media.
- Eat healthy meals and stay hydrated.
- Exercise.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Avoid excessive use of alcohol and tobacco.
- Stretching, breathe deeply or meditate.
- Focus on enjoyable activities.
- Connect with others and share how you are feeling.
Caring for yourself can help you cope with stress. It will also help you be able to support your loved one's recovery.