Coronavirus: Worried By Your Symptoms?

10 Do's And
Don'ts
ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-covid-19-india-update-worried-by-your-symptoms-10-dos-and-donts-
2198896
NDTV News March 22,
Desk 2020

Coronavirus symptoms include fever and dry cough.

New Delhi: People across the world are worried about the rising cases of COVID-19, a
highly contagious disease caused by the Novel Coronavirus that was first detected in
China's Wuhan in December last year. What should you do if you're feeling any little ill,
flu-ish and you are worried that you have symptoms of coronavirus?
1. Do not rush to a government hospital that is testing for coronavirus. Hospitals
might have a long waiting period and also have a high chance of you catching the
virus while waiting at hospital. If you have any travel history to a country that is
affected by COVID-19 in the past 14 days or have any contact history with someone
who has tested positive you might need a test (especially if you have a fever and a
dry cough).

2. Phone a government hospital or helpline (unfortunately only a few private labs are
allowed to test yet - and they haven't started wither because of certain restrictions
which everyone is working to overcome) and ask them to send someone to your
home to take a sample (it's a simple nasal and throat swab - no injection) from you
for testing. They must come to your house and take the sample. If they don't agree,
do not go to the hospital to get tested if there are long queues. There is a high
probability that if you go to hospital and queue for hours, you will catch the
infection there. Ask your doctor if you should stay at home in self-imposed
isolation and quarantine. If you must be tested and you have to go to a hospital -
try and stand apart in a queue, wear a mask, carry sanitizer. Most importantly, ask
the hospital to allow you be in self-quarantine at home (test results are currently
taking about 4 days) and not be forced to be in quarantine in the hospital (where
you could be surrounded by infected patients).

3. Make a list of all the people you have met in the last few days. Let each one of
them know that you are not feeling well and you are in self-imposed isolation as a
measure of precaution even though you have not yet been tested for coronavirus.
This is even more important if by any chance you have been in contact with
someone who has recently come to India from a country which has been hit by the
coronavirus.

1/3
 4. Inside your home, keep at least 6 feet away at all times from your family members,
especially elderly members as they are the most vulnerable. Disinfect and sanitise
all door handles, knobs and any surfaces that you touch (The coronavirus can
survive for possibly 8 hours or more on surfaces). All the implements you use to
eat and drink must be sanitized and kept isolated only for your use.

5. Be constantly in touch with your doctor and follow what she or he says. Do not
follow treatment suggestions on WhatsApp or any social media. There is more
disinformation than information being circulated and this is dangerous. You are
allowed to have paracetamol (available under many different brand names). Drink
lots of water. And rest, rest, rest.

6. You should feel better within the next 5-7 days. Very, very few people are severely
affected by the virus. So while you are in bed do not feel anxious and tense - you
are going to get better. Just focus on not giving your infection to others in your
home.

7. In the unlikely case (very unlikely but possible) that you are one of the few who is
finding it difficult to fight the virus, you may begin to experience breathing
difficulties. If this happens, you do need to consider being admitted to a hospital as
you may need ventilator oxygen support. Consequently, if you are facing breathing
problems do go to a hospital.

8. If you are an elderly person or you have diabetes or a heart disease or are
generally not healthy - the decision to go to hospital should be earlier, perhaps
after Day 2 if you're not feeling better. Go strictly by your doctor's advice on when
and where to go to hospital.

9. Always remember that the coronavirus is extremely infectious. Always be aware

that it's your responsibility to society and to your country to do everything possible
to protect others from being infected by you. For example, wearing a mask is
primarily to prevent you giving your infection to others (the masks prevents tiny
droplets when you cough or sneeze reaching others and infecting them); the masks
are not very useful in protecting yourself. So always wear a mask as soon as you
begin to feel unwell - protect others is also you motto.

10. Finally, remember there are many reasons not to panic. First, there is only a small
chance of you actually getting the coronavirus. Second, even if you do get it you are
very, very, very likely to fight off the virus and to be well and fit in a week or so.
Thirdly, China has actually given everyone hope with the tapering off of new cases -
indicating that the coronavirus will hopefully come and go.

4 Comments

2/3
3/3