I might have it
Yes, stay home when you are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Call your primary care physician or health care provider. If they determine you need a Coronavirus test, they’ll direct you to the right location — and prescribe medications as well.
Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to COVID-19, or if you are experiencing fever, cough, or shortness of breath, should contact their primary care physician or health care provider immediately.
Contact your primary care provider. He or she will complete a travel and exposure screening to help best determine if further testing is required.
Limit contact with pets & animals: You should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just like you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus.
CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it. A facemask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of facemasks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
Try to isolate the infected person as much as possible from other household members and pets–have the person stay away from other people and use a separate bedroom and bathroom if available.
Where do I go?
In case of emergency contact 911. It is recommended to call the ER or Urgent care facility so they can prepare for your arrival. Mild cases of COVID-19 are often treated symptomatically from home or through outpatient services instead of a visit to an acute care facility.
Contact your doctor, health care provider, or local county health department. They will use CDC guidelines to determine if testing is warranted. There are a few ways that a lab may get a sample for testing.
- Swab test. A health care provider will use a special swab to take a sample from your nose or throat.
- Nasal aspirate. A health care provider will inject a saline solution into your nose, then remove the sample with gentle suction.
- Tracheal aspirate. A health care provider will put a thin, lighted tube called a bronchoscope down your mouth and into your lungs, where a sample will be collected.
- Sputum test. Sputum is a thick mucus that is coughed up from the lungs. You may be asked to cough up sputum into a special cup, or a special swab may be used to take a sample from your nose.
- Blood. A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm.
Contact your primary care physician for testing options. Testing is completed at the State Department of Health (DOH) and will be brought into facilities once tests are available. Test results are made available within 24 hours of the State DOH receiving the test kit.
Your primary care physician will be able to help you. If you don’t have a doctor, visit your member website or call Member Services at the number on the back of your insurance card to identify an in-network doctor.
Contact your primary care physician. He or she will complete a travel and exposure screening to help best determine if further testing is required.
No, home testing for COVID-19 is not available at this time.
Yes, people who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate and treat their symptom at home during their illness. There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19.
1). In case of medical emergency, call 911. That means difficulty breathing or another emergency medical condition. 2). Call your doctor’s office or the emergency department before visiting so they can prepare for your arrival. 3). Video visits or telemedicine are great ways to avoid leaving home when you are ill and still receive medical assistance; call Member Services at the number on the back of your card to see if these services are available to you.
If you have telemedicine access through Highmark, we’re waiving all appointment fees for the next 90 days because the safest place for you, if you’re sick, is at home. Check your member portal online or call Member Services at the number on the back of your card.
Contact their doctor about what type of visit is best for them; video visits are the safest path to medical advice because they let those who are sick stay at home and avoid contact with crowds.
I do have it
There is no antiviral treatment for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 should seek medical care to help relieve symptoms, such as receiving a fever reducer.
Talk to your health care provider: The decision to discontinue home isolation precautions should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.
Your primary care physician will be able to help you. If you don’t have a doctor, visit your member website or call Member Services at the number on the back of your insurance card to identify an in-network doctor.
Your primary care physician will be able to help you. If you don’t have a doctor, visit your member website or call Member Services at the number on the back of your insurance card to identify an in-network doctor.
Researchers are working on developing a vaccine for this virus. It is estimated to take between 6 and 18 months.
We do not know if there are any long-term negative effects. We will learn more as more people are in recovered status.
This depends on the person’s health condition. People without chronic health conditions are showing a recovery time frame of 7-14 days.
