How to look after yourself at home if you have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 (2024)

FAQs

What helps COVID symptoms go away faster? ›

Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home. You can treat symptoms with over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to help feel better.

Offer small amounts of fluid frequently, even if they do not feel thirsty. If the sick person is not eating solid food, give fluids that contain sugars and salts, such as Pedialyte® or Lytren® (undiluted), broth, or sports drinks (diluted half and half with water).

People with COVID-19 are often contagious for 5-10 days after their illness begins. People with flu may be contagious for up to 5-7 days after their illness begins. People with RSV are usually contagious for 3-8 days after their illness begins.

Fever or chills. Cough. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Fatigue.

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you or your child have symptoms and either: have a high temperature. do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do your normal activities.

If you have COVID-19 or think you might, you can expect the illness to go away on its own in about 10 to 14 days. Most people (about 80%) recover from COVID-19 without special treatment. But COVID-19 can cause serious illness. Older adults and people with other medical problems are more likely to get very sick.

Caffeine. While caffeine is known to reduce fatigue, there is also some evidence that it may combat COVID-19. Initial studies have shown that this ingredient may reduce inflammation and help assist with your immune system's response to the virus.

What should I do if I have a positive COVID-19 test? ›

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people

If you have a positive COVID-19 test result, it is very likely that you have COVID-19 even if you do not have any symptoms. You can pass on the infection to others, even if you have no symptoms.

New loss of taste or smell. "Brain fog" (feeling less wakeful and aware) Gastrointestinal symptoms (upset stomach, mild diarrhea, vomiting)

Drink lots of water and get plenty of rest. Manage your symptoms with over-the-counter medications. Over-the-counter cough medications work well to suppress a cough, decongestants can help with congestion and acetaminophen can help with aches.

Avoid foods (e.g. snacks) that are high in salt and sugar. Limit your intake of soft drinks or sodas and other drinks that are high in sugar (e.g. fruit juices, fruit juice concentrates and syrups, flavoured milks and yogurt drinks). Choose fresh fruits instead of sweet snacks such as cookies, cakes and chocolate.

Your healthcare professional may suggest certain medicines if you test positive for COVID-19 and are at high risk of serious illness. These medicines keep mild illness from getting worse. They can include nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid), remdesivir (Veklury) or molnupiravir (Lagevrio).

Mild to moderate illness from COVID-19 usually lasts an average of 10 days. For some people, symptoms fade in a matter of days; for others, it takes weeks.

Most people with COVID-19 feel better within a few days or weeks of their first symptoms and make a full recovery within 12 weeks. For some people, symptoms can last longer. This is called long COVID or post COVID-19 syndrome. Long COVID is a new condition which is still being studied.