Because no one has any existing immunity to COVID-19, many people will at some point be exposed to it. Instead of panicking, our advice is to prepare rationally.

Stock up on:

• Tissues

• Paracetamol (Panado)

• Cough medicine without paracetamol (you don’t want to double up)

• Vicks VapoRub for your chest

Forward-thinking:

• If you have a pre-existing lung condition (asthma, COPD, TB) then talk to your doctor about what to do if you get sick

• If you have asthma, then check your pump’s expiration date and get a new one if necessary

• Make nutrient-rich freezer meals

Oxygen therapy

COVID-19 is a respiratory virus, meaning that it can enter and take hold of your respiratory system. Using oxygen therapy early on on COVID-19 patients is an alternative to putting them on a ventilator. Our registered nurses (RNs) are available to assist with oxygen therapy at home.

A pulse oximeter calculates how much oxygen is being transported through your bloodstream. Doctors consider a reading of 94% and higher to be normal.

Symptom mangement: 

The majority of cases so far have been able to recover at home just by resting, hydrating, and self-medicating. Here’s how:

• If you have a fever (above 38°c) then take paracetamol (not ibuprofen)

• Increase your fluid intake

• Stay home (even if you’re feeling better, you may still be infectious)

• Get lots of rest

• Ask family and friends not to visit and to leave supplies outside to avoid contact

• Sleep with a humidifier at night or convert your bathroom into a steam room

NB: IF YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE GETTING WORSE, THEN CALL THE HOSPITAL OR 0800 029 999 FOR GUIDANCE.

Should you get tested?

It’s important that COVID-19 tests are made available to those who really need them. That’s why the tests are reserved for those who meet specific criteria.

Phone 0800 029 999 (free of charge), your doctor, or designated healthcare facility if you have:

• Symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath)

• Been exposed to someone confirmed positive for the coronavirus

• Travelled to a COVID-19 high-risk country (such as China, Italy, USA, Iraq, Germany, etc.) in the last 14 days

IF you fit this criteria, then you’ll be directed where to go for testing.

How much does the test cost?

Public sector testing is free of charge. Private labs (such as Lancet, Pathcare, and Ampath) can also test for the coronavirus. Please enquire with the respective lab for their costing and check with your medical aid to see if they’ll cover it.

Source: SAnews