Coronavirus Disease or COVID-19
What is Coronavirus disease or COVID-19?
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by an infection with a virus called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2.
COVID-19 stands for coronavirus disease of 2019 and it is a pandemic because it has spread to many different parts of the world.
Where did this virus come from and how did this infection start?
COVID-19 was first seen in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China, in December 2019.
Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses – some coronaviruses cause illness in people and others are seen in bats, cattle, cats and camels. Rarely, an animal coronavirus may spread to people – COVID-19 is believed to have spread to humans from bats sold in a wet food market in Wuhan.
What factors increase my risk of severe COVID-19 infection?
How does COVID-19 spread?
COVID-19 spreads from an infected person to a person without infection or even to pets through droplets (tiny drops) of secretions from the nose, mouth, throat, or lungs. Droplets are released into the air or fall on surfaces when you talk, sneeze, cough, or spit.
These droplets from a person with COVID-19 can get into your body through your mouth, nose, or eyes. Droplets with the virus may be in the air and can enter your body when you breathe in these droplets. These droplets can also be on surfaces such as door handles or other objects. From these objects, they can end up on your hands and get into your body when you touch your face.
How can I reduce my risk and prevent the spread of COVID-19?
The best way to prevent or slow the spread is to learn as much as possible about COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads.
What are the signs and symptoms of coronavirus infection?
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate flu like symptoms and may not need any treatment at all. Older people, and those with other medical problems like heart problems, diabetes, lung problems, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. COVID-19 symptoms include:
Some people may not have any symptoms of COVID-19 illness at all but may be carriers and can spread the virus. That is why its important to maintain social distancing to break the chain or slow the spread of COVID-19.
What do I do if I have any COVID-19 symptoms?
Stay home and isolate yourself to reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19 to family members or friends. Call your local health line (In Saskatchewan, call 811) to ask what you should do. If your illness is mild, find out if you can take over the counter medicines for your symptoms. If you do not feel better, your fever remains the same or increases, you have a persistent cough, difficulty breathing, or other symptoms that do not get better, please call the health line or your local hospital and arrange to be seen in a COVID clinic. Your doctor or nurse will check if you have COVID-19 symptoms or signs, order tests and advise you if you need to stay in quarantine or hospital for further treatment.
It is important to remember that most people with COVID-19 recover by themselves without any specific treatment. It may become severe only in a small number of people especially if you are older than 50 years of age, have any pre-existing conditions like diabetes, cancer or other chronic lung or heart problems.
Who should be tested?
To find if you have COVID-19 infection, viral tests are used. But not everyone needs this test. Most people have mild illness and can recover at home and may not need tests or medical care. Your provincial or local health departments or your doctor or nurse practitioner will decide who needs a test for COVID-19.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 that are not getting better, call your health line or healthcare provider.
You can also visit your local government website to look for the latest information on COVID-19 and testing.
You can use this self assessment tool to see if you need testing for COVID-19.
What tests are used to find out if I have coronavirus infection?
Two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19: viral tests and antibody tests.
A viral test tells you if you have COVID-19 infection at the time of testing
An antibody test tells you if you previously had a COVID-19 infection.
An antibody test cannot show if you have a current infection, because it can take 1-3 weeks after infection for your body's immune system to make antibodies. It is not yet known if having antibodies to the virus can protect a person from getting COVID-19 infection again and how long that protection will last.
Results of tests for COVID-19:
If you test positive for COVID-19 by a viral test, your doctor or nurse will advise you about treatment, isolation or admission to a hospital unit reserved for COVID-19 patients.
If you test negative for COVID-19 by a viral test, it means you do not have COVID-19 at the time of testing. It does not mean you will not get COVID-19 as you can still catch the infection at anytime – so it is important to remain safe.
Whether you test positive or negative for any COVID-19 test, you should always take action to protect yourself and others.
How is coronavirus infection treated?
Most people with COVID-19 illness will recover on their own. Severe or worsening symptoms may require supportive treatment in hospital, for example: medicines to control high fever or severe cough, oxygen therapy if there is low blood oxygen level, or ventilator support for breathing difficulty.
You may also receive antibiotics or antiviral medicines to treat COVID-19 infection.
If symptoms feel worse than the usual cold, see a health care provider or call Healthline at 811. If Healthline 811 asks you to visit a doctor or hospital, they will advise you about calling the hospital or clinic before you go there.
At present, there is no approved vaccine that protects against coronaviruses, including COVID-19.
Is the treatment for coronavirus infection free of cost to me?
Treatment is available free for everyone diagnosed with COVID-19 who is confirmed to have COVID-19 as this is a public health crisis.
Assessment and treatment sites
Is there financial assistance available during this COVID-19 pandemic?
There is financial assistance available for different situations.
Use the contact form if you have questions or to provide feedback on COVID-19.
Please share this information with as many people as you can to help us all stay safe! Thank you for your support.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by an infection with a virus called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2.
COVID-19 stands for coronavirus disease of 2019 and it is a pandemic because it has spread to many different parts of the world.
Where did this virus come from and how did this infection start?
COVID-19 was first seen in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China, in December 2019.
Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses – some coronaviruses cause illness in people and others are seen in bats, cattle, cats and camels. Rarely, an animal coronavirus may spread to people – COVID-19 is believed to have spread to humans from bats sold in a wet food market in Wuhan.
What factors increase my risk of severe COVID-19 infection?
- Reduced immunity due to illnesses like HIV/AIDS or any other cause of reduced immunity like chemotherapy
- Other health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, lung disease, cancer
- Older people (In the US, 8 out of 10 deaths have been in people 65 years or older: CDC)
- Crowded situations
How does COVID-19 spread?
COVID-19 spreads from an infected person to a person without infection or even to pets through droplets (tiny drops) of secretions from the nose, mouth, throat, or lungs. Droplets are released into the air or fall on surfaces when you talk, sneeze, cough, or spit.
These droplets from a person with COVID-19 can get into your body through your mouth, nose, or eyes. Droplets with the virus may be in the air and can enter your body when you breathe in these droplets. These droplets can also be on surfaces such as door handles or other objects. From these objects, they can end up on your hands and get into your body when you touch your face.
How can I reduce my risk and prevent the spread of COVID-19?
The best way to prevent or slow the spread is to learn as much as possible about COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads.
- Wash hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water
- Use disinfectant gel or solution if you do not have access to soap and water to wash your hands
- Do not touch your face with unwashed hands
- Maintain social distancing – stay at least 6 feet from other people
- Avoid crowds
- Wear a mask – a simple surgical mask can help prevent you from touching your nose and mouth as well as reduce the spread of droplets from your mouth or nose when you talk, sneeze or cough
- Wear protective eyewear or a visor
- Use recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, special clothing, visors, etc. if you are caring for a person with COVID-19
- Cough into a bent elbow or tissue
- If you have a cold or flu, stay home and self isolate – reduce other people’s exposure to your infection
- Follow social distancing or lockdown recommendations
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough, fever or breathing difficulty, consult your doctor or nurse and follow all advise on isolation or quarantine, testing, and treatment
- Protect the elderly and sick from meeting anyone who has flu-like symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of coronavirus infection?
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate flu like symptoms and may not need any treatment at all. Older people, and those with other medical problems like heart problems, diabetes, lung problems, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. COVID-19 symptoms include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Pneumonia in both lungs
- Fatigue/tiredness
- Sputum/phlegm
- Sudden loss of taste or smell
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle pains
- Runny nose
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
Some people may not have any symptoms of COVID-19 illness at all but may be carriers and can spread the virus. That is why its important to maintain social distancing to break the chain or slow the spread of COVID-19.
What do I do if I have any COVID-19 symptoms?
Stay home and isolate yourself to reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19 to family members or friends. Call your local health line (In Saskatchewan, call 811) to ask what you should do. If your illness is mild, find out if you can take over the counter medicines for your symptoms. If you do not feel better, your fever remains the same or increases, you have a persistent cough, difficulty breathing, or other symptoms that do not get better, please call the health line or your local hospital and arrange to be seen in a COVID clinic. Your doctor or nurse will check if you have COVID-19 symptoms or signs, order tests and advise you if you need to stay in quarantine or hospital for further treatment.
It is important to remember that most people with COVID-19 recover by themselves without any specific treatment. It may become severe only in a small number of people especially if you are older than 50 years of age, have any pre-existing conditions like diabetes, cancer or other chronic lung or heart problems.
Who should be tested?
To find if you have COVID-19 infection, viral tests are used. But not everyone needs this test. Most people have mild illness and can recover at home and may not need tests or medical care. Your provincial or local health departments or your doctor or nurse practitioner will decide who needs a test for COVID-19.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 that are not getting better, call your health line or healthcare provider.
You can also visit your local government website to look for the latest information on COVID-19 and testing.
You can use this self assessment tool to see if you need testing for COVID-19.
What tests are used to find out if I have coronavirus infection?
Two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19: viral tests and antibody tests.
A viral test tells you if you have COVID-19 infection at the time of testing
An antibody test tells you if you previously had a COVID-19 infection.
An antibody test cannot show if you have a current infection, because it can take 1-3 weeks after infection for your body's immune system to make antibodies. It is not yet known if having antibodies to the virus can protect a person from getting COVID-19 infection again and how long that protection will last.
Results of tests for COVID-19:
If you test positive for COVID-19 by a viral test, your doctor or nurse will advise you about treatment, isolation or admission to a hospital unit reserved for COVID-19 patients.
If you test negative for COVID-19 by a viral test, it means you do not have COVID-19 at the time of testing. It does not mean you will not get COVID-19 as you can still catch the infection at anytime – so it is important to remain safe.
Whether you test positive or negative for any COVID-19 test, you should always take action to protect yourself and others.
How is coronavirus infection treated?
Most people with COVID-19 illness will recover on their own. Severe or worsening symptoms may require supportive treatment in hospital, for example: medicines to control high fever or severe cough, oxygen therapy if there is low blood oxygen level, or ventilator support for breathing difficulty.
You may also receive antibiotics or antiviral medicines to treat COVID-19 infection.
If symptoms feel worse than the usual cold, see a health care provider or call Healthline at 811. If Healthline 811 asks you to visit a doctor or hospital, they will advise you about calling the hospital or clinic before you go there.
At present, there is no approved vaccine that protects against coronaviruses, including COVID-19.
Is the treatment for coronavirus infection free of cost to me?
Treatment is available free for everyone diagnosed with COVID-19 who is confirmed to have COVID-19 as this is a public health crisis.
Assessment and treatment sites
Is there financial assistance available during this COVID-19 pandemic?
There is financial assistance available for different situations.
Use the contact form if you have questions or to provide feedback on COVID-19.
Please share this information with as many people as you can to help us all stay safe! Thank you for your support.
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