Step 2. C-O-V-I-D
C- CONTACT YOUR JOB
TELL THEM YOU ARE SICK
Do not go to work or leave your home.
If you are sick, even with mild symptoms do not go to work. Going to work puts co-workers and customers at risk of exposure to COVID-19 and leads to the spread of infection. If you are at work and become sick, tell your supervisor and leave immediately. For more information see Benefits for Workers Impacted by COVID-19.
While at home, do not leave except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.
Take Care of Yourself: Get rest and drink lots of fluids. Take over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), to help you feel better.
O- OBSERVE YOUR SYMPTOMS
NOTE WHEN THEY START & END
Monitor your symptoms daily & ideally twice a day. Self-monitoring is easy & takes less than 1 minute.
Ask yourself these questions every day:
1. Do I have a fever over 100.4? If you have a thermometer use it. If not simply ask yourself if you feel feverish.
2. Am I having chills?
3. Do I have a new or worsening cough?
4. Do I have new or worsening shortness of breath or difficulty breathing?
5. Do I have muscle pain?
6. Do I have a headache?
7. Do I have a sore throat?
8. Do I have loss of taste or smell?
Get tested immediately after having symptoms. Remember:
- It takes 3-4 days for the virus to develop in the body and show up on the test
- If you are in quarantine and have no symptoms but are worried you will get sick, you can test 3-4 days after your first exposure
- If you test negative, you still need to stay in quarantine as you still may become ill
Visit a California COVID-19 testing site near you or visit the testing page for your local health department for other testing options in your county. The quicker you are tested the quicker you have results.
Continue to stay home until 3 days after you no longer have symptoms AND 10 days after the first day you had symptoms.
Most people will recover at home without visiting their doctor or the emergency room. However, seek emergency medical care immediately if you have :
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Bluish lips or face
- Inability to wake or stay awake
V- VISIT YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEBSITE
Visit your local public health website for more information or call 2-1-1 in Merced and Fresno or 3-1-1 in Madera to find out resources available to you that are specific to your location.
I- ISOLATE FROM OTHERS
INCLUDING THOSE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD
Isolation is one of the most important things you can do as soon as you have any symptoms.
This means separating yourself from other people and pets in your home. Doing this quickly reduces the chance of you spreading your illness to others that you love in your home. You should stay in isolation until 3 days after your symptoms to make sure it is safe for your family and friends.
How do you Isolate?
You do not need to go to a separate location. Even if you live in a home with many people you can still isolate. See the CDC guide for large families living in the same household (English|Spanish).
- Stay in one room, away from other people as much as possible.
- Use a separate bathroom if possible OR disinfect the bathroom after each use.
- Sleep in a separate room OR at least 6 feet from others.
- Eat in a separate room. Do not share utensils.
- If you must be around others, wear a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth.
Read basic tips on "Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 when you are sick" from the CDC for more information & resources.
D- DETERMINE YOUR CLOSE CONTACTS
A close contact is anyone who was within 6 feet for at least 10 - 15 minutes starting from 48 hours before the person began feeling sick until the time the patient was isolated. This may include co-workers, family members, or friends.
It’s important to identify who your close contacts are as quickly as possible. The sooner people know they may have been exposed, the more we can stop the spread of COVID-19.
- Use the “Inform Your Close Contact” chart (English|Spanish) to help you remember where you went and who you were near.
- Once confirmed positive – Use the script on page 2 of “Inform your Close Contacts” to help you tell your contacts that they may have been exposed and provide them with instructions. If you do not feel comfortable you can call your local public health department and provide them with the names of the contacts.
Example - How to identify your close contacts
Scenario: You start to feel sick Wednesday. Immediately, you stay home from work and isolate from everyone including your spouse and one child that lives with you in your household. You went to work on Monday and Tuesday, the 48 hours prior. During those shifts there are 20 other employees at the job. However, only three work within 6 feet of you and were in contact for a period of 10 minutes.
Q: Who are your close contacts?
A: In this scenario your spouse and child are close contacts because you live with them and presumably exposed them prior in the 48 hours prior to having symptoms. The three employees who worked within 6 feet of you would also be close contacts. However the other employees who worked in the same shift would not be since they were not within 6 ft.
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