The COVID-19 virus, which of late has unfortunately been the defining feature of 2020, is continuing to impact countless lives the world over. As of writing, there have been more than two and a half million people infected with the virus, with trends showing tens of thousands of new infections per day.
Different countries are making tremendous efforts in preventing the virus from spreading. South Korea, Germany, and New Zealand have all seen the positive effects of their respective governments’ policies on containing coronavirus. For these countries, aside from distancing, beating COVID-19’s spread seems to have come from early detection and intensive care.
Symptoms of Infection – What to Look for
Scientists are continuously discovering new properties of the novel coronavirus. Since the World Health Organization was alerted in 2019 to the clusters of outbreaks in China, researchers have launched dozens of case reports, practice guidelines, controlled clinical trials, and more. To date, the WHO has about 8,750 articles in its global COVID-19 database.
Research has been consistent in reporting that the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, a dry cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Others may experience headaches, a runny nose, a sore throat, and even diarrhea and body aches—though these are less common.
The virus has a two- to 14-day incubation period, which means someone who has been infected may not show symptoms for up to two weeks. Though they are pre- or asymptomatic, they can still pass the virus to other people, which is why it gets transmitted at such a rapid rate.
Who Should Get Tested for COVID-19?
At the moment, tests are only available in the U.S. for people who are showing a combination of the common symptoms of the virus. Those who should reasonably expect to get priority testing are people suffering from symptoms in addition to having come in contact with COVID-19 patients. You may also get priority testing if you have signs of infection and are part of a community with a large population of positive cases. Those who have weakened immune systems are also prioritized.
If you are experiencing symptoms and fit into any of these categories, you should contact your nearest healthcare facility immediately. Call them on the phone before arriving, so that they can prepare the protocols for accommodating a person under investigation.
Arrange for your admission into a hospital if you experience persistent difficulties in breathing, tightness, or discomfort in the chest or abdomen; problems with thinking; a high fever that is not responding to home remedies and first aid; and a bluish tint on areas with thin skin such as around the eyes, lips, or in the nail beds. Always inform the facility beforehand that you suspect that you have COVID-19, so that the risks for cross-contamination are lessened.
What to Know about COVID-19 Test Kits
At the moment, the standard for diagnosing novel coronavirus cases is by using something called Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR testing. Samples are obtained by swabbing a person’s nose, or the back of their throat.
Aspirated fluid, saliva, or a stool sample can also be used. Researchers will then use a technique called real-time reverse transcription, which helps identify whether your sample contains certain genes found in COVID-19 positive cases.
RT-PCR testing takes about a day or two to complete and a patient may need at least two rounds of tests for confirmation. This means verifying results may take up to a week. Recently, a rapid test kit was approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
This point-of-care testing device produces results in 45 minutes. Validity of results on both the RT-PCR and the rapid test kits are being continuously reviewed by specialists.
Conclusion
Maintain a balance between keeping up to date with coronavirus news and protecting your mental health. When online, actively work against disinformation by checking the legitimacy of sources and sharing only verifiable information.
For more stories and updates on COVID-19, visit Dose of Healthcare today.
