How to treat mild COVID-19 symptoms at home

Most people who become ill with COVID-19 will experience mild symptoms and can recover fully at home, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

If you’re experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms, contact your primary care physician or set up an eVisit or video visit. Unless your doctor recommends otherwise, stay home to help minimize the spread of the virus. However, if you have an underlying medical condition, your doctor may recommend a different approach to your care.

What are mild COVID-19 symptoms?

The definition of “mild COVID-19" varies, but generally symptoms include:

• Cough 
• Fever 
• Headache 
• Sore throat 

How to treat mild COVID-19 symptoms

If your symptoms are mild and your doctor recommends isolating at home, follow these guidelines for recovery:

• 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 drinking alcohol and heavy exercise, as these activities may worsen your symptoms. 

If you begin to have trouble breathing or become excessively fatigued or confused, seek medical attention. Watch for signs of a medical emergency, including difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, not waking up and bluish lips or face.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 and notify the dispatch personnel that you have or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If available, put on a face mask before emergency medical services arrive.

How to stop COVID-19 from spreading

Staying home helps protect those around you and slow the spread of the virus within your family and community. According to the Centers for Disease Control, you should isolate at home until at least 24 hours after:

• Your symptoms are minimal and declining
• You have not had a fever for 24 hours (without taking fever-reducing medication)

Since it is known that a minority of people at that time may still be contagious, you should continue to take precautions not to spread the virus to others for an additional five days.

• Stay home and at least 6 feet away from everyone else.
• Designate one bedroom as yours and spend most of your time there. 
• If possible, designate a bathroom for your individual use. If not, disinfect all surfaces that you touch after each use, including the toilet flush handle and all doorknobs.
• Wear a mask if anyone is near you. If you do not have a mask, use a handkerchief or even a pillowcase to cover your mouth and nose.
• Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or into a tissue.
• If anyone touches anything that you have touched, have them thoroughly wash or disinfect their hands. The virus appears to able to stay alive on surfaces for several days.

If you are caring for a family member who is sick with COVID-19, take extra precautions to help minimize your risk:

• Wear a face mask, face shield, gown, gloves and shoe covers when in close proximity.
• After leaving their presence, remove all the protective gear before carefully and thoroughly washing and disinfecting your hands. 
• Wash all utensils, plates, bowls and glasses in hot water and dry thoroughly. Then, wash and disinfect your hands again.

If you're experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, explore your virtual care options.