COVID-19: How do I know if I have the virus?

Disclaimer: This blog post is up to date as of March 30th, 2020. However, guidelines and policies around COVID-19 are changing on a daily basis. We will endeavour to update this post often to reflect these changes. Toronto-specific COVID-19 information (updated daily) can be obtained from https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/ or at 416-338-7600 (Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline) What are symptoms of COVID-19?

The most common symptoms are fever, tiredness and a dry cough. However, infected individuals may also experience muscle aches, a runny nose, a sore throat, shortness of breath, and diarrhea. More significantly, COVID-19 can cause pneumonia or multiple organ failure, leading to death.

It is also important to note that the incubation period (the time between catching the virus and starting to show symptoms) of COVID-19 ranges from 1-14 days, most commonly around 5 days. This means that you could catch the virus, but not show symptoms for two weeks.

What should I do if I have symptoms?

If you have mild symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, runny nose etc.), the best course of action is to stay at home and rest. You should self-isolate at home for a minimum of 7 days and 48 hours symptom-free before leaving the house. For example, if you feel better by Day 3, you should still self-isolate until Day 7. If you feel better by Day 8, you should continue to self-isolate for an additional 48 hours. You can use this self assessment tool to see if your symptoms align with COVID-19 https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/#q0

While in self-isolation, drink lots of fluids and maintain good hand and respiratory hygiene. If you live with others, maintain a good distance at all times and wear a mask around them. Here are some useful resources: Self-isolation: Guide for caregivers, household members and close contacts https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/factsheet-covid-19-guide-isolation-caregivers.pdf?la=en How to self isolate (for people with symptoms) https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/960f-How-to-Self-Isolate-with-Symptoms_EN.pdf To prevent community outbreak, the COVID-19 assessment centers in the GTA currently focuses on testing individuals who work or reside in a high-risk environment. These include hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care homes, retirement homes, rehabilitation center, school/daycare, homeless shelter, prison, etc. An individual who is in close contact with a large group of vulnerable people on a regular basis will need timely assessment to prevent an outbreak in these facilities, which could overwhelm our hospitals. If you are experiencing symptoms and you fit the above criteria, please visit the following site for more information

List of assessment centers in the GTA https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-health-advice/covid-19-assessment-centres/

If you have significant symptoms (persistently high fever, shortness of breath) or any other concerning symptoms, you should contact Telehealth (1-866-797-0000) or go to your nearest Emergency Department.

Legal Disclaimer

These presentations are intended for general information purposes only. Audience are recommended to consult with qualified healthcare provider and obtain professional advice and subsequent management for your particular conditions. The views and opinions expressed by the speakers do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Assisting in Medical Expectations.