COVID-19 Black Disposition

If you have COVID-19, there are things you can do to reduce your symptoms and feel better while you recover at home.

• Rest.
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) if you need to relieve a fever and body aches. Read and follow all instructions on the label.

Steps to take to avoid spreading the virus:

• Stay home and separate yourself from others, including those you live with. Limit contact with people in your home. If possible, stay in a separate bedroom and use a separate bathroom. For at least 10 full days, anytime you're around other people, you and they should wear a high-quality mask. Children younger than 2 years old don't need to wear a mask.
• Self-isolate until it's safe to be around others again. (Important: Day 0 is the day your symptoms started or the day you tested positive. Day 1 is the day after your symptoms first started or your test was positive.)
  • If you tested positive but had no symptoms, it's safe to end isolation at the end of Day 5. But if you start to have symptoms, follow the recommendations below and count your first day of symptoms as Day 0.
  • If you have symptoms, when you can end isolation depends on how sick you were and your overall health. No matter what, you need to wait until your symptoms are getting better and you haven't had a fever for 24 hours while not taking medicines to lower the fever. Here's how long to isolate, based on your symptoms:
    • If you were only a little sick: (This means you might have felt really bad but had no shortness of breath and never needed to be in the hospital.) You can end isolation at the end of Day 5.
    • If you were more sick: (You had some shortness of breath or some trouble breathing but never needed to be in the hospital.) You can end isolation at the end of Day 10.
    • If you were very sick and needed to be in the hospital, or if you have a weakened immune system: You can end isolation at the end of Day 10 or later. Talk to your doctor to find out when it's safe to end isolation. You may need a viral test.
    • After you end isolation, if your symptoms come back or get worse: Restart your isolation at Day 0. Do this even if it happens after you took medicine for COVID.
• Avoid travel and stay away from people at high risk for serious disease for at least 10 days.

Here are some other steps you may need to take:

• Improve airflow. If you have to spend time indoors with others, open windows and doors. Or you can use a fan to blow air away from people and out a window.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Wash your hands often, especially after you cough or sneeze. Use soap and water, and scrub for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes.
• Don't share personal household items. You can assign yourself your own set of items, including bedding, towels, cups and glasses, and eating utensils.
• Clean and disinfect your home every day. Use household cleaners and disinfectant wipes or sprays.
• Avoid contact with pets and other animals. If possible, have a friend or family member care for them.

If you live in group housing, such as a community shelter, be sure to follow instructions from the group housing staff. They can tell you how to stay safer in the shelter and how to keep others safe.

If you develop symptoms or your symptoms become worse, answer the symptom checker questions again or call your doctor or a local health clinic. You may need care.

Be sure to follow all instructions from the CDC and your local health authorities.