COVID

COVID can spread when someone talks, coughs, or sneezes, sending tiny droplets into the air. If these droplets get into someone else's mouth or nose, they can get sick too. You can also catch COVID by touching surfaces that have the virus on them and then touching your face.

COVID's timing and severity throughout the year can vary from month to month.

Every year, individuals in our community become sick with COVID. Repeat infections may occur throughout life, and people of any age can be infected.

People are usually contagious for 5 to 10 days and may become contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of illness. However, some older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, can continue to spread the virus even after they stop showing symptoms, for as long as 4 weeks.

People infected with COVID usually show symptoms within 2 to 14 days after getting infected.

People infected with COVID usually have mild symptoms and can manage their symptoms on their own. Symptoms of COVID infection usually include the following:

• Fever or chills
• New loss of taste or smell
• Coughing
• Sore Throat
• Fatigue
• Shortness of Breath
• Muscle or Body Aches
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Congestion or Runny Nose
• Nausea and/or Vomiting

Some people are at higher risk for serious complications from COVID and should talk to a healthcare provider right away if experiencing any COVID symptoms. Taking antiviral medicine to treat COVID may shorten the length of your illness and help prevent more-serious problems.

In rare cases, individuals may develop serious complications with severe symptoms that require immediate medical attention. Emergency symptoms may include:

• Trouble breathing
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• Pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds

1. Stay home when sick
   • Return to normal activities when your symptoms are better overall, and you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine.
   • It is recommended you wear a mask for 5 days without a fever when returning to normal activities.
2. Wash your hands | Cover your cough & sneezes
   • After coughing, sneezing, or touching surfaces in public areas, wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or 60% alcohol hand sanitizers.
   • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing.
3. Get immunized
   • Discover below which COVID immunization is recommended for you and where to receive a COVID immunization in Whitman County.

If you would like to take additional precautions to protect community members at high risk of getting very sick, consider staying away from those individuals until:

• 10 days have passed since your symptoms started,
• 10 days have passed since you tested positive, if you never developed symptoms, or
• You test negative for COVID-19 with an antigen test, such as an at-home test.

If you need to be around someone at high risk of getting very sick during this time, the most protective step you can take is wearing a well-fitting mask when around them. You can also take steps to improve airflow and filtration, physically distance, and clean regularly.

Check for extended expiration dates here: At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests | FDA.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children under 2 years old get vaccinated, as well as high-risk children or those living with someone who is high-risk. Additionally, the guidance includes language that children not in the high-risk groups “whose parent or guardian desires their protection from Covid-19” should be offered a vaccine.

Washington State's Department of Health recommends that everyone 6 months and older who do not have contraindications receive the COVID-19 vaccine to protect against severe illness. To ensure residents have access to COVID immunization, they have released a Statewide Standing Prescription that allows qualified health care professionals such as physicians, pharmacists, nurses, medical assistants, etc. to vaccinate individuals 6 months and older.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women receive the vaccine at any point during pregnancy, when planning to become pregnant, in the postpartum period, or while lactating.

There are different recommendations if you are moderately or severely immunocompromised; see Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People.

If you were recently infected, at least 6 months.

Washington State's Department of Health recommends that everyone 6 months and older who do not have contraindications receive the COVID-19 vaccine to protect against severe illness. To ensure residents have access to COVID immunization, they have released a Statewide Standing Prescription that allows qualified health care professionals such as physicians, pharmacists, nurses, medical assistants, etc. to vaccinate individuals 6 months and older.

The American College of Physicians (ACP) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) have yet to provide recommendations for adults and immunocompromised patients.