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1. How is COVID-19 treated?

On October 2020, the FDA approved the antiviral drug remdesivir to treat COVID-19. The drug may be used to treat adults and children ages 12 and older and weighing at least 88 pounds, who have been hospitalized for COVID-19. Clinical trials suggest that in these patients, remdesivir may modestly speed up recovery time.

Most people with mild COVID-19 illness will recover on their own by drinking plenty of fluids, resting, and taking pain and fever medications. However, some cases develop pneumonia and require medical care or hospitalization.

If you experience a medical emergency such as trouble breathing, call 911 and let the operator know you may have COVID-19. Never take prescription medicine or drug if it is not prescribed for you by your doctor for your health condition.

2. What are the symptoms of Coronavirus?

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death.

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure (based on the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses).

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html 

Life-threatening symptoms of COVID-19 include:

If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include*:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

3. What are the symptoms of COVID-19 vs allergies and the flu?

4. What is close contact?

KDHE says close contacts are those exposed to a person with COVID-19, even if that person didn’t have symptoms, if any of the following situations occurred:

• Living with the person or stayed overnight for at least one night in a house with the person; or
• Within 6 feet of the person for 10 consecutive minutes or more; or
• Direct contact with the infectious secretions of the person (for example, coughed or sneezed on; kissed; contact with a dirty tissue; shared a drinking glass, food, towels, or other personal items).

Anyone who has close contact with a positive patient must complete a 10 day quarantine period beginning after their last contact.

Household contacts, or people who live with someone who tested positive, are required to quarantine for 10 days after the last close contact, which in most circumstances means 10 days after the patient has recovered. A person whose spouse or roommate tests positive may have to quarantine for a total of 20 days or more.

5. How do I contact the screening hotline?

A screening hotline staffed by medical personnel is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon to provide guidance for anyone who has symptoms. The screening hotline number is 785-323-6400.

6. What is the latest guidance on wearing a mask?

The following recommendations apply to non-healthcare settings. For related information for healthcare settings, visit Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination.

Fully vaccinated people can:

1. Participate in many of the activities that they did before the pandemic; for some of these activities, they may choose to wear a mask.
2. Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel and from self-quarantine after travel.
3. Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States.
4. Refrain from routine screening testing if feasible.

Infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. However, preliminary evidence suggests that fully vaccinated people who do become infected with the Delta variant can spread the virus to others. To reduce their risk of becoming infected with the Delta variant and potentially spreading it to others: CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people:

Wear a mask in public indoor settings if they are in an area of substantial or high transmission. (To find out the current level of transmission in Riley County please visit the CDC COVID Data Tracker )

1. Fully vaccinated people might choose to mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they or someone in their household is immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease, or if someone in their household is unvaccinated. People who are at increased risk for severe disease include older adults and those who have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, overweight or obesity, and heart conditions.

Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

If you came into close contact with someone with COVID-19 get tested 3-5 days after the date of your exposure and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days after exposure or until a negative test result.

Isolate if they have tested positive for COVID-19 in the prior 10 days or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Follow any applicable federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations.

KDHE Advice About Masks