Some information you need to know about COVID-19

Posted

How to Protect Yourself And Your Family

CDC and DHEC suggest you should:

- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing;

- Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue, or use the inside of your elbow;

- Stay home if you're sick, and avoid close contact with people who are sick; and

- Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.

What are the symptoms?

Watch for symptoms, including fever, cough or shortness of breath.

What do I do if I have symptoms?

If you have any symptoms, contact your health care provider or use one of the telehealth resources: https://bit.ly/3dC4yYe

What is social distancing?

Social distancing means staying home as much as possible, staying at least 6 feet away from other people while in public and avoiding gatherings with many people present.

Everyone should wash their hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. These are the best ways to protect yourself and our communities from the spread of COVID-19. Brief close contact (being within 6 feet for a short time) is not sufficient to spread the virus.

What does it mean to be a close contact of someone with COVID-19?

Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 for at least several minutes. The virus is spread primarily from person to person through respiratory droplets from when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose. That is why it is so important to wash your hands often and clean frequently touched surfaces at least daily.

I am a close contact to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. What should I do?

A person who is sick with COVID-19 is most likely to spread the COVID-19 virus to others when they have symptoms. That is why anyone who is sick should avoid contact with others and stay home unless leaving to get medical care. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose. That is why it is so important to wash your hands often. If you are a close contact to a person with COVID-19, it is recommended that you self-quarantine and stay away from other people as much as possible for 14 days from the last date of exposure to the person.

Can I get tested for COVID-19?

Testing for COVID-19 requires an evaluation from a health care provider because symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to flu and other common viruses. Your provider will determine whether you should be tested.

There is no testing that will identify the illness before someone experiences symptoms. You should not get tested if you are not ill.

I have symptoms but did not get tested. How long do I need to stay isolated?

If symptoms are mild, it may not be necessary to test. Those who can isolate at home for seven days after their symptoms start could consider doing that rather than trying to seek testing. They could stop isolating if it has been seven days since the symptoms started and at least three days since the last fever.

* Source: CDC, DHEC

MORE INFORMATION

To find a list of local and general resources, go to https://bit.ly/2ULb7PE.