Symptoms and Treatment

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Last Updated: 7/24/24

Symptoms and What To Do If You Feel Sick

The signs of COVID-19, flu, and RSV can be similar. Click here to see which symptoms are more common with COVID-19, flu, or RSV.  

Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory virus symptoms.  

You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours: 

  • Your symptoms are getting better overall, AND 

  • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).  

When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene,   masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.  Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. 
 
If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again until, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your symptoms are improving overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days. 

Seek health care right away for testing and/or treatment if you believe you may have a respiratory virus (if you feel sick or tested positive for one) and you have risk factors for severe illness. If you have flu or COVID-19, treatment may be an option to make your symptoms less severe and shorten the time you are sick.   
 

Treatment for COVID-19 or Flu

 

If you have a respiratory illness and you are more likely to get very sick, treatments are available that can reduce your chances of being hospitalized or dying from the disease. People who are more likely to get very sick include:

  • Older adults (ages 50 years and older, with risk increasing with age) 
  • People who are unvaccinated or are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations 
  • Infants and young children 

  • People with certain medical conditions, such as chronic lung disease or heart disease

  • People with weakened immune systems

  • People with disabilities 

  • Pregnant and recently-pregnant people

 

Act quickly: the medicines to treat COVID-19 need to be prescribed by a healthcare provider or pharmacist and started within 5-7 days of when you first develop symptoms. Contact your healthcare provider right away to find out if you are eligible for treatment, even if your symptoms are currently mild.

Learn more about COVID-19 Treatments and Medications and Flu Antiviral Medications.

 

Free Testing and Treatment for COVID-19 and Flu

 

The CDC Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program provides no-cost COVID-19 testing for uninsured people that are symptomatic or exposed to COVID-19. Use the CDC’s Testing Locator to find no-cost test locations near you. 

Patient assistance programs for COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments (Paxlovid and Lagevrio) are available to people who are underinsured, uninsured, or on Medicaid or Medicare to lower your out-of-pocket costs. Enroll in these programs to learn if you can receive assistance for specific medications, regardless of your insurance status. Call ahead to your healthcare provider and insurer to confirm coverage eligibility.

HRSA-funded health centers provide primary and preventive care to millions of patients regardless of the ability to pay. Use the Find a Health Center tool to locate a health center clinic near you. Health Centers in Stamford include Family Centers, Community Health Centers (CHC), or Optimus.